Dowry of the Soul: Central Asian Tradition Meets Contemporary Art

Description

Gulnur Mukazhanova’s Dowry of the Soul at CHAT is her largest solo exhibition, featuring over 100 brightly coloured textile works that fuse Central Asian felt-making with contemporary art. From 2 to 30 November, the first part of the exhibition at The Hall of The Mills will feature her monumental three-storey installation “False Hope or Moment of the Present,” surrounding visitors with intricate cloud and floral felt patterns for a unique sensory experience.

Then, from 14 November onwards, Dowy of the Soul includes paintings, sculptures and patchwork installations, using the dowry as a metaphor to explore female perspectives on cultural inheritance amid rapid globalisation. The Kazakh artist’s bold colours and experimental collages push felt beyond its traditional uses, creating emotional and open expressions that provoke reflection on identity and tradition. 

Born in Kazakhstan, Mukazhanova studied at the Art Academy in Almaty and Weißensee Academy of Art in Berlin, where she now resides. Her work has been globally exhibited at shows like Venice Biennale, as well as at cultural institutions such as the New Taipei City Art Museum and Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art.

Stemming from Mukazhanova’s solo exhibition, there will be two related events in January at CHAT. On 22 January, curator Wang Weiwei will lead a guided tour, followed by a performance of Weaving Shadows and Light by contemporary dance artist Alice Ma. Then, on 30 January, Wang will again lead a tour, followed by an immersive Kazakh folk dance performance, Ode to Central Asia, by artists Pasha Umer and Celine Laurelle Tang. Both events will conclude with a conversation between the curator and the artists.