Kazakh National University of Arts
“Art Splash Students’ project on stage costumes «Art Splash»
Curator: Gaini Mukhtarova
Collection Title: SARAISHYK
Sketches and photos of costumes: Inkar Karimova
The head of the project presented at the Biennale: Alma Syrbaeva
The collection is connected with the ancient city of Saraishyk, in the west of Kazakhstan. This is a city with a rich history and when I was exploring it, I discovered the legend. A beautiful legend about Princess Suyunbik, daughter of the Gold-Horde Khan Zhanibek. He ruled in 1342-1357. And he created an artificial lake here. Like a pool. For his beloved daughter, he built a golden boat. And when she went out for a walk, many townspeople gathered to see this beauty – a golden boat, a beautiful princess among swans. That’s why the lake was named swan lake.
When Suyunbike died, khan ordered to bury her with all her dowry in a golden boat. He told the batyrs to protect her.
I created costumes for a princess and costumes of batyrs for girls, although then women could not fight and be a batyr, today it is quite possible, therefore I interpreted the costume for modern time, preserving the flavor and history.
