The Art of the Book and the Language of Publicistic Writing: Future Publishing Professionals from KazNU Visit the A. Kasteyev Museum of Arts

Students specializing in Publishing at Farabi University took part in an off-campus practical session at the State Museum of Arts of the Republic of Kazakhstan named after Abylkhan Kasteyev. The educational visit was organized as part of the course «Popular Science Kazakh Journalism» and led by Assistant Professor Makpal Khalelovna Argynbayeva.

The primary objective was to explore visual culture and the textual interpretation of artworks, with particular emphasis on the professional analysis of graphic art and illustration in the context of publishing standards and popular science discourse.

A Focus on Graphics and Book Illustration
The main part of the students’ professional analysis took place in the museum’s galleries dedicated to graphic art and book illustration. These collections offered particular academic and practical value for future publishing specialists.
• Visual storytelling tools. Students examined in detail how drawing, composition, line and hatching serve as visual languages for interpreting literary works.
• The relationship between text and image. Through examples from classical and contemporary publications, students explored how illustrations complement popular science texts, make information more accessible to readers and contribute to a coherent reading experience.
• The art of book design. Future publishing specialists studied the technical characteristics of graphic works, from engraving to lithography. This experience was essential for understanding the evolution of printing and publishing.

Three Exhibition Projects: From Archives to Conceptual Felt Art
The temporary exhibitions attracted particular interest, providing students with practical opportunities to develop critical and popular science writing skills.
• «The Living Body of Architecture» – a large-scale project marking the 50th anniversary of the museum’s unique building. From the perspective of archival journalism, students examined rare architectural drawings, photographs and documents reflecting Almaty’s modernist architectural identity.
• «Мұра жіптері» («Threads of Heritage») – an exhibition of monumental textile art that introduced visitors to its profound philosophy and symbolic systems. The exhibition also offered inspiration for contemporary ethnically inspired book design.
• An Exhibition of Contemporary Felt Art – a showcase demonstrating how traditional craftsmanship can be transformed into conceptual art objects. For students, it provided an excellent example of how cultural heritage can acquire a new visual language.

Exploring the Museum’s Permanent Collections Through the Lens of Journalism
As part of their study of popular science journalism, students also conducted content analyses of works representing other areas of the museum’s collection.
1. Kazakhstani Painting. Vast steppe landscapes, historical compositions and portraits were explored as valuable sources for illustrating scholarly and historical publications.
2. Decorative and Applied Arts. Masterpieces of traditional craftsmanship, including ornaments, felt products and textiles, demonstrated the distinctive visual style of Kazakh artisans.
3. International Art. Works by Russian, European and Asian artists enabled students to compare artistic approaches and publishing traditions across different cultures.
4. Contemporary Art of Kazakhstan. Artworks reflecting social change and cultural identity helped students understand the expectations and visual language of contemporary audiences.

Outcomes of the Practical Art Session
The off-campus session allowed future publishing specialists to go beyond theoretical lectures and apply their knowledge in a museum setting. Drawing on the illustrations, graphic techniques and archival materials they encountered, students will prepare a series of practical assignments, including popular science articles, reviews of book illustration and analytical critiques.

We extend our sincere gratitude to the management of the A. Kasteyev Museum for supporting the training of qualified professionals for Kazakhstan’s publishing industry!

Makpal Argynbayeva, 
Assistant Professor at Al-Farabi Kazakh National University