Kazakh Artist Assol Brings New Appreciation for Art Through Her Carpet Art
Through her carpet art, Assol focuses her energy on attracting the eye of passersby, particularly the young, whom she hopes expand their own appreciation for art literacy, while raising the profile of women in Kazakh history.
Visitors stop to study two pieces of art, “Sakas Queen” and “Aibike batyr” by artist Asel Sabyrzhankyzy, known as Assol, from the exhibit Qazaq Content at the art gallery Kulanshi, Astana, Kazakhstan.
Photo courtesy of Asel Sabyzhankyzy
Asel Sabyrzhankyzy, a Kazakh artist known by the mononym Assol, uses paintbrush and graffiti techniques to paint Kazakh historical figures on carpets. She started her art journey when she was 5 years old painting various cartoon characters. After more than 14 years of artistic training at a children’s art school in Astana, and then later at Kazakh National University of Arts and T. Zhurgenov Kazakh National Academy of Arts, and more than 1,000 works later, in 2021 the 29-year-old started posting her works on TikTok and Instagram to encourage young people toward creativity. When 80,000 people viewed the post of her work of Dimash Kudaibergenov on her TikTok @assolyaa account last September, she realized the power of social media in promoting her mission.
Apart from their functional role in the daily life of Kazakhs, carpets symbolize a protective yet enduring role. Assol’s works, in juxtaposing modernity and tradition, the philistine and affluent, captures this while challenging our imagination beyond the conventional. Through her pictures, portraits and carpet art, Assol focuses her energy on attracting the eye of passersby, particularly the young, whom she hopes expand their own appreciation for art literacy. Edgu Bilig caught up with Assol to discuss her works, her latest exhibition and her plans for future.
What is the story behind using carpets as a canvas?
“Blue wolf,” by Assol, 2023, carpet, mixed technique.
During my 14 years of professional painting, I have used different materials as a canvas: a ball, T-shirts, etc. When I saw an Iranian artist painting portraits on a carpet, I liked the idea of using carpets as a canvas. After some time, I decided to somehow try to connect it to our carpet culture and be the first one in Kazakhstan who uses carpets as canvases.
What kind of painting techniques do you rely on to realize your art on carpets?
There's no special technique. I use graffiti and brush paint. Since carpet art is part of nomadic culture and tradition, I started experimenting on it. Carpets did not play only their functional role of warming and decorating Kazakh yurts, they were also the critical in symbolism nomadism.
How do you choose the quality of carpets to use as a canvas?
Actually, there are no certain and fixed requirements for the quality and parameters of carpets. I arrive at each specification by myself. I always use new carpets, the pile should not be long, the patterns should fit the painting image, and the carpet should hold its shape. I mostly use Iranian, Turkish and Persian carpets. Since I am a portrait painter, I work very precisely. So far not a single carpet has been spoiled. If there are some errors, I repaint that place or part on my own, and no one will be able to find them.
Moving on to the subjects of your works on carpet: who was the first historical figure you captured?
“Gaukhar batyr,” by Assol, 2023, carpet, mixed technique.
My first work on the carpet is “Blue Wollf,” the prophetess of all Turkic peoples. I have always been interested in the topics that connect our Turkic ethnicities. According to legend, the blue wolf was a sacred animal for the Turkic people, a messenger of Tengri who saved the tribes from death. An ancient Turkic clan of breeding was completely exterminated by a neighboring clan. Only a 9-year-old boy survived, abandoned without arms and legs near a lake. The boy was found and brought up by a she-wolf who later became the mother of his children. Fleeing from enemies, she hid in the mountains of the Eastern Tien-Shan [Mountains] where she gave birth to 10 sons. Her grandson Ashina became the leader of the tribe. Ashina means "noble wolf." As a sign of respect for his ancestor, Ashina depicts the head of a she-wolf on the flag of his family. “Blue Wolf” is something mysterious, the connection to nature and our roots. There is even something pagan in it.
Your current exhibition focuses on women. How did you arrive at choosing this theme?
“Kurmanzhan,” by Assol, 2023, carpet, mixed technique.
The idea was to raise the status and position of women in our society. To reveal the history of our historical women. What were they were like? They were warlike, some ruled the state, others fought equally with male batyrs (warrior-heroes of spiritual repute), and they earned the respected title of a batyr. For example, Gaukhar batyr and Aibike-batyr. I wanted to bring forth all the forgotten names via my works. By the way, I designed all the faces myself, as their faces didn’t look like I have painted them. I painted everything, including headdresses, armor, symbols, based on some historical and archival photos. For example, the Saka queen is painted based on the image of Altyn Adam. As for the [Kyrgyz] Kurmanzhan [Datka], I wanted to capture her wisdom. The kimeshek (a traditional headgear of Central Asian married women she wears) shows her status, and her knowledge and wisdom are infinite and come from the kimeshek connected to the Space.
Lastly, what are your future plans?
I want to exhibit at the world's top galleries. I will continue to develop carpet art and experiment with it. Since I'm also an artist hyperrealist, I want to combine hyperrealism and carpet art, try to add colors and see what will come from it.