Gulnur Mukazhanova: «My artistic practice is partly a continuation of our heritage»
An interview with artist
About the choice of material and the process of work
My first experience with felt was during my studies in Almaty, this process immediately seemed very close to me. While continuing my studies in Berlin, I returned to felt, working with this material, I feel something that is difficult to convey in words, I feel like a connection with my ancestors. In the process of work, I always immerse myself in a special state, disconnecting from everything, it's like meditation. Every time for me it is a new experience. At the beginning of work, I do not know what the result will be in the end and it is always a very exciting process.
About the last work «Moments of the present»
I chose the collage technique using English needles, which symbolize fragility and inconsistency. I came up with the idea to use needles during the process of work. I wanted to get away from gluing fabrics because this method is associated with hastily-made Chinese things. If everything is sewn- the meaning of work is lost. Patterns that used to be embroidered on carpets, nowadays I see them in these fabrics. Shiny fabrics are an illusion, the thing that we imagine or what we would like to see, but in reality completely different.
About the series «Post nomadic Realities»
In the past, we had colorful carpets with very saturated ornaments. Today I simplified the form, took one color, and emphasized it. It seems to me that this reflects our "empty" time, we cannot make the same carpets as before in earlier times. We have lost this tradition, but we can push away from them and create something new. In my works, as in life, the west and east are encountered. From the moment when I realized that feeling is the material with which I wanted to work, the material that connects me to my culture. Unfortunately, most of the heritage of the Kazakh culture is lost. My artistic practice is partly a continuation of our heritage.
Post nomadic Realities #8
About identity
I constantly live in this state, with a sense of loss, and of course, it is transmitted through work. When I made sculptures with masks, I represented the whole world in one person. I worked on this series for about a year and the whole period felt anxiety from this image.
Global Society #3
About quarantine
We were at home in quarantine for almost 5 weeks and did not go anywhere with two
children. I really appreciate the time spent with my family. There was very little time, but I continued to work in the workshop, also re-read the classics of Kazakh literature.