Aral – my destiny, my pain

In honor of the 100th anniversary of the classic of Kazakh literature, Hero of Labor of Kazakhstan, People’s Writer of Kazakhstan, laureate of the USSR State Prize Abdijamil Nurpeisov, an international symposium of artists “Kalam Ushyndagy Galam” was held in the Aral region. It included cultural events, creative meetings, excursions to the sights and historical places of the area, master classes for young artists and their teachers.

In particular, at the Museum “House of the Writer Abdijamil Nurpeisov” the artists got acquainted with the writer’s works, learned a lot about the history of the region where he was born and raised, and left their signatures in a memorial album.

– The classic lived for almost a century, leaving an invaluable spiritual heritage. His books have been translated into more than 30 languages ​​of the world, in which the writer raised eternal topics that were always relevant in society – environmental problems, social issues, interpersonal relationships and love for his native land. His novels “Blood and Sweat” and “The Last Duty” have taken their rightful place in world literature. These two novels are, in fact, one grand epic. And we painted pictures based on these works, in which the writer showed the whole world the great fateful changes in the life of the Kazakhs,” shared the head of the Union of Artists of Kazakhstan Omirbek Zhubaniyazov.

As Omirali Ismailov, chairman of the board of the Union of Artists of the city of Astana, said, Aralsk became one of the first regional centers of the country where an international gathering of artists was organized.

“A whole galaxy of famous akyns, composers, and artists grew up in the area,” he said. “Culture, painting, and fine arts are valued here. Thanks to the organizers for the invitation to the anniversary, we are glad to be a part of the event. We visited a number of sacred places in the Aral Sea region, Mount Akirek near the village of Akbay, where, according to legend, Arystan Baba, the writer’s birthplace, is buried, got acquainted with the history of the sea, and worked fruitfully. And they left two paintings about the Aral Sea as a gift to the house-museum.

On the final day of the symposium, an exhibition was held in the district Schoolchildren’s House. In particular, works by famous painters Kair Orazgaliev, Zhandarbek Sugurov, Berik Bokeshov, Orazbek Yesenbaev, Nortoilok Dierov from Uzbekistan and Chyngyz Ormonbekov (Kyrgyzstan) were presented.

Honored Artist of the Republic of Kazakhstan, laureate of the International Prize of the TURKSOY organization, famous artist Kairbay Zakirov, whose work is closely connected with the fate of the Aral Sea, addressed the participants and guests of the anniversary.

According to the organizers, following the results of the symposium, an album-catalogue of the artists’ paintings will be published. Masters of the brush were awarded diplomas and letters of gratitude from the district akimat.