Racing the Galaxy

Showcasing the very first international contemporary art exhibition in Nursultan, the capital city of Kazakhstan.

Exploring the free spirit of nomadism that is common to all these artists from Kazakhstan as well as those in other parts of the world, Racing the Galaxy reports on the dissolution of the old dichotomies between East and West, in an era of global communication and melding cultural influences. This volume also highlights the talented emerging artists from a vibrant Kazakh art scene.

Sharing the ambition to sensitise their audiences and to highlight the dissonances of a changing world, these artists are informed by their creative displacements and their mastery of new technologies. Covering topics such as globalisation, multiculturalism, identity, gender, minorities, the quest for the future, and the appropriation of history, all these artists explore speculative narratives and aesthetic strategies to map the social and political issues currently being played out.

This book is the first survey in English of contemporary art practice in Kazakhstan and offers a new perspective on the debates engaging contemporary Kazakh and international culture.

Racing the Galaxy affirms the extraordinary potential of Kazakhstan and Central Asia in general and celebrates dynamic adaptation alongside historical heritage.