Almagul Menlibayeva

An Almaty-born multidisciplinary artist with a distinguished international career, Menlibayeva is acclaimed for her critical and innovative explorations of the cultural, historical and sociopolitical dynamics of Central Asia. It is a fitting honour that the museum, located in her hometown, debuts with her first comprehensive retrospective.

 

Titled I Understand Everything, the exhibition is curated by the renowned Thai curator Gridthiya Gaweewong. This in-depth showcase attempts to share Menlibayeva’s artistic journey, from the late 1980s to the present, organized in thematic sections that delve into key aspects of her work. It reveals how she unearthed overlooked narratives and untold histories, resisted and embraced change, as she navigated the constant shifts that shaped her life and artistic practice. 

​

The title I Understand Everything is inspired by Almagul’s early painting of the same name from 1989–90, which depicts semi-abstract images fragmented into grids. Its forms mirror the disarray of a collapsing system and the search for new cultural and political identities, and capture the sense of perplexity and uncertainty of the era caused by the economic hardships, social unrest and the urgent call for change.

​

Menlibayeva’s interdisciplinary practice spans a wide array of mediums, including painting, printmaking, video, photography, performance and textile. The artist often addresses the role of women and identity, ecology, energy and neo-colonialism. She also weaves in indigenous cosmologies and mythologies, providing a nuanced perspective on the region’s evolving identity.