«In childhood, until a certain moment, it seemed that there was no atmosphere in the sky, there were a steppe and space began immediately»
Among his generation, the artist Askhat Akhmedyarov is particularly sensitive to political situations, with his charisma in every work, he finds a balance between acutely social themes and poetic metaphors. In the past, Askhat was a member of the Transavangard group (later renamed the Kyzyl Tractor), one of the most significant art groups of modern art in Kazakhstan. At the moment his solo career includes a long list of international projects, additionally, the artist is also widely known for his political actions. In this Interview for IADA, Askhat spoke about his painting “Accelerating Block”, shared his thoughts about the future and his opinion on the Cybernomadism exhibition.
About COVID-19
Regarding the time and anxieties associated with COVID-19, this situation changes our view on modern civilization possibilities. It appeared as a challenge to globalism and now we can say that the destruction that this virus brought to the world is comparable to the 3rd World War. Only in contrast to our "primitive" concept of war, here the illusion of stability is destroyed as if a certain consciousness was raising its questions for humanity. The COVID-19 virus and this whole situation seem to bring us closer to the cold presence of the future, but it is no longer in disaster films or at green energy exhibitions, but somewhere outside the window, in our yard.
About the work “Acceleration block”
All our childhood was consecrated by cosmic romance. In childhood, up to some point, it seemed that there was no atmosphere in the sky, there were a steppe and space began immediately. My mother was a rural medical assistant - an obstetrician and she was part of the search engines when the astronauts landed. We watched spellbound as the rocket took off, somersaulting during takeoff, dissolving concentric luminous circles all over the sky. A Kazakh girl in a saukele transformed into a rocket and it’s not a result of my “invention”, but a reflection on the positive changes in society, where women have taken a leading position.
About future
I remember science fiction writers of the 20th century because their look was completely determined only by the territory of America and Europe. Behind the look directed to the future is always a political context, which forms this view. In the Soviet period, I could not help but share collective views, but I had the opportunity to survive the time through painting. The present is far superior to the future that was then imagined. I did not imagine such a scale of consumption and the magnitude of the environmental destruction.
About the exhibition
Online exhibitions are now gaining great relevance, art, and their representation is being transformed with the adoption of new conditions. Myth-making through the traditional life of nomads by Sergei Maslov creates a projection of the future, but besides this, in the Baikonur-2 project, you can see political criticism of Kazakhstani reality. Stuffed with dombra's sensors (Marat Dilman), and Battleyurt (Anvar Musrepov) - for me this is a felt, disturbing prospect. Representing the future through these seemingly independent objects, I see a world consisting of the relationship of machines that exclude humans.