In early October, Associate Professor N.S. Sanyarova and the students of group TF-274-K studying at Al-Farabi Kazakh National University visited the new center of contemporary art – the Almaty Museum of Arts. According to the students, this museum is the first private museum of contemporary art in Central Asia and was opened on September 9, 2025, by philanthropist and well-known Kazakh entrepreneur Nurlan Smagulov. Interestingly, the foundation of the museum is based on his personal collection, gathered over the past three decades, which includes more than 700 works of Kazakh art. The museum constantly expands its collection, paying special attention to the contemporary art of Kazakhstan, Central Asia, neighboring regions, and other countries, encompassing a wide range of media, genres, and perspectives. The museum’s size is impressive — it covers approximately 1,000 square meters. There are two main halls: Uly Dala and Saryarka, where special thematic exhibitions from the museum’s collections are held. We also visited dedicated rooms featuring the works of Richard Serra, Anselm Kiefer, Yayoi Kusama, and Bill Viola. We saw the Al-Farabi Transformer Hall and other event spaces used for lectures, chamber concerts, film screenings, and more. The museum also includes a large storage area, a café, a shop, and other facilities. On the museum grounds, visitors can see monumental sculptures created by internationally renowned artists Yinka Shonibare, Jaume Plensa, and Alicja Kwade. Visiting the museum gave us an opportunity to engage with contemporary art, to explore the creativity of Kazakh and international artists, to gain valuable cultural knowledge, and to broaden our worldview through the prism of art. This shared experience was meaningful for both students and the teacher, as it encouraged discussions not only about art but also about topics that concern students today.
