Traditional and contemporary art of kazakhstan in the focus of visual studies: iconography, semiotics and discourse

The scientific supervisor of the project is Shaigozova Zhanerke Nauryzbaevna, Candidate of Pedagogical Sciences, Associate Professor 

Implementation period: 2024-2026

Project goal: Based on the methodological tools of visual studies, present the art of Kazakhstan as an integral phenomenon with well-established images, topos of vision, and visualization practice, traceable from epoch to epoch. The emphasis of the evidence base will be focused on iconographic, semiotic, and discourse analysis, which will reveal the oldest layers of visual culture and identify the vectors of the national cultural policy of its development.

Project tasks 

1) collection, study, and analysis of historical-ethnographic, philosophical, and cultural-art history materials and sources in the traditional region and contemporary art of Kazakhstan in the field of visual research with the publication of analytical materials in journals of Kazakhstan. (Committee for Quality Assurance in the Field of Science and Higher Education of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan – at least 1 one articles);

2) carrying out scientific business trips to the Mongolian Academy of Sciences (Mongolia) and Tuva Institute of Humanitarian Research (Russian Federation), Karakalpak Scientific Research Institute of Humanities (Uzbekistan), Azerbaijan National Carpet Museum (Azerbaijan), qualified in research in the field of ethno-aesthetics and aesthetic ontology of the nomadic world with the subsequent publication of analytical materials in journals of Kazakhstan (Committee for Quality Assurance in the Field of Science and Higher Education of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan – at least 1 one articles);

3) conducting field research on collecting samples of the traditional art of Kazakhstan (artifacts of museum collections, rock paintings, wall paintings in religious buildings, etc.) and their further analysis based on visual studies approaches;

4) study and critical analysis of modern visual images of Kazakhstan, presented in fine and applied arts, contemporary art, design, and other visualization practices (media, Internet, etc.) with the subsequent publication of analytical materials in journals of Kazakhstan (Committee for Quality Assurance in the Field of Science and Higher Education of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan – at least 1 one articles);

5) development of the main directions of development of Kazakhstan's strategy in the field of visualization practices as part of cultural policy based on nationally oriented ideological constructs with subsequent publication of analytical materials in scientific journals (Committee for Quality Assurance in the Field of Science and Higher Education of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan – at least 1 one articles); 

6) discussion of the developed directions of Kazakhstan's strategy in the field of visualization practices as part of cultural policy in the format of an online event (round table) with representatives of foreign institutions in the field of cultural policy formation, visual specialists, and other stakeholders;

7) development and creation of a web gallery based on iconic examples of traditional and modern art with an analytical description of the presented work of art with placement on the official website of «Kazakh Scientific Research Institute of Culture» LLP;

8) development and publication of an illustrated collective monograph "Traditional and modern art of Kazakhstan in the focus of visual research: iconography, semiotics and Discourse" in a volume of at least 15 printed sheets (with extended annotations in the state and English languages) with obtaining a certificate of copyright registration in the "National Institute of Intellectual Property" of the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Kazakhstan;

9) during the implementation of the project, participation in domestic and international scientific and practical conferences (at least 2) and publication of articles (at least 2) in the rating journals of the Scopus database and Web of Science with a percentile of at least 25 in the direction of "Arts and Humanities" in the declared field of research, indicating the Individual Registration Number of the project.

Members of the research group of the project IRN: AP23488164 "Traditional and Contemporary Art of Kazakhstan in the Focus of Visual Studies: Iconography, Semiotics and Discourse"
	Scientific Supervisor of the Project   Shaigozova Zhannerke – Candidate of Pedagogical Sciences in the specialty 13.00.02 – Theory and Methodology of Teaching Fine Arts, Associate Professor in the specialty "Art History" at Abai Kazakh National Pedagogical University. She has over 50 publications on the issues of traditional culture and art of Kazakhstan, including publications in journals indexed by Committee for Quality Assurance in Science and Higher Education, Scopus, and Web of Science. Her h-index is 1 in Scopus and 2 in Web of Science. She is a member of the Union of Artists of the Republic of Kazakhstan in the "Art History" section and a member of the National Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
	Chief Researcher   Naurzbaeva Almira – Doctor of Philosophy, Associate Professor of Cultural Studies, Professor at the Department of Social and Humanitarian Disciplines at Kurmangazy Kazakh National Conservatory. She has 45 years of experience in scientific and pedagogical work and is the author of 90 publications. Her research focuses on the philosophy of the spiritual universe of Kazakh culture.
	Chief Researcher   Shklyaeva Svetlana – Candidate of Art History, Professor, Independent Researcher. She has 50 years of overall experience in the field of decorative and applied arts, museum work, and scientific-pedagogical activities. She is the author of over 70 publications in the field of applied and fine arts of Kazakhstan.
	Leading Researcher   Baigutov Karim – PhD, specializing in traditional and contemporary art of Kazakhstan. He is the author of over 25 scientific publications, including journals indexed in Scopus. Member of the Union of Artists of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
	Leading Researcher   Ibragimov Aman – Candidate of Pedagogical Sciences, Acting Associate Professor in the specialty "Art History" at Abai Kazakh National Pedagogical University. He is the author of over 35 scientific publications, including journals indexed in Scopus.
	Researcher   Suraganov Sergali – specialist in architecture, traditional, and contemporary applied arts of Kazakhstan. He is the author of over 30 scientific publications and has participated in several field studies of Kazakhs in Russia and Mongolia.
	Junior Researcher   Shalenova Manara – Master of Art History, with 7 years of experience in scientific and pedagogical work. She has 3 publications.
	Junior Researcher   Bitoreeva Desmina – Master of Art History, has 5 years of experience in project work. She has 3 publications.