CONTACT Photography: Almagul Menlibayeva
Aga Khan Museum, Toronto
Almagul Menlibayeva, an award-winning artist from Kazakhstan, explores the complexities of post-socialist Central Asia through photography, video, and mixed-media installations. As part of the CONTACT Photography Festival, the Aga Khan Museum featured two of her exhibits: My Silk Road to You along the Aga Khan Park and Nomadized Suprematism in the museum's lower level.
A new exhibit visual brand was created to complement Almagul Menlibayeva’s artistic style, using specific fonts, graphic treatments, and a carefully selected colour palette to engage and inform visitors. The visual identity aimed to enhance the experience of the exhibit while aligning with the themes of the artwork.
Print, Environmental Graphics, Elevations
Role: Creative Direction, Design, Production. Exhibit Photography by Aly Manji
Role: Creative Direction, Design, Production. Exhibit Photography by Aly Manji
My Silk Road to You, Aga Khan Park
In My Silk Road to You, Menlibayeva invites viewers into a world where textiles symbolize the deep historical connections spanning Central Asia, from China to Iran, Russia, and Europe. Focusing on women and girls in the region, Menlibayeva highlights their role as guardians of culture and symbols of modernity, set against significant historical shifts, including the empires of Genghis Khan and the Soviet era. The work reflects the enduring influence of the Silk Roads and its impact on cultural and identity transformations in the region.
“I engage with the woman's image, casting her as a figure of formidable strength and courageous spirit, spanning from antiquity to the present with a mysterious past. My work seeks to illuminate the rich tapestry of Central Asia and Siberia—regions ripe with diverse, yet lesser-known cultural narratives. ”
— Almagul Menlibayeva
Nomadized Suprematism, Aga Khan Museum lower level
In Nomadized Suprematism, Menlibayeva reimagines the Silk Roads through the lens of Soviet industrialization, capturing how these historical shifts affected the nomadic civilization of Eurasia. This photographic series addresses the collapse of traditional economies and the emergence of new identities, especially among women, in response to the dystopia caused by the fall of modernist ideals. The exhibit in the museum's lower level critiques the socio-cultural, technological, and ecological challenges of the present, particularly highlighting the disproportionate ecological burden placed on local communities. Menlibayeva's work urges reflection on the global consequences of local actions and decisions.
