Saudi Press

Saudi Arabia and the world
Saturday, Aug 02, 2025

Art competition presents perceptions of Kazakhstan through drawings of children

More than 400 painters age 16 and younger from Kazakhstan and abroad showcased their perception of the modern country in the first Kazakhstan through the Eyes of Children of the World international drawing competition. Seventy works were on display Nov. 5 for the awards ceremony at the country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Through their interpretations, children drew Kazakh tales, legends, history, landscapes, sacred places, customs and traditions. The competition introduced the country to youngsters, tweens and teens from Azerbaijan, Belarus, Italy, Russia and Turkey.

Their participation testifies to their great interest in Kazakhstan, said Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Roman Vassilenko during his welcoming speech.

Twelve-year-old Anastasia Schelyapa, from Kansk, Russia, won a grand prix for her painting “Kazakh Girl.” The competition was the reason for her interest in Kazakh culture and her first visit to the country.

“I loved painting something colourful, vivid and motley. I think that is exactly what I associate with Kazakhstan,” she said.

Grand prix winner Mira Dogan, 5, of Istanbul, has been living in the capital for a year. Her two paintings, both named “Astana,” featured the city’s signature buildings including the Akorda, Baiterek and Khan Shatyr.

“Mira couldn’t accommodate her feelings (about Kazakhstan) in a single painting. She loves Baiterek and Khan Shatyr because their architecture is unique,” said her father Yalcin Dogan.

“Because Kazakhstan and Turkey are brotherly nations, the cultural tie is the bridge between the countries. I work here. When I arrived, my daughter Mira was very happy, because Mira likes snow very much. She thinks that this place is the world of snow,” he added.

She got her first impression of Kazakhstan from an airplane magazine.

“There was a very good, beautiful picture of Almaty’s Alatau Mountains with snow on top of them. Having seen it, Mira liked it very much,” he said.

The competition offered hope and guidance to the other participants.

“Now, I know where to go forward (and) that I can learn to draw better,” said Diana Isayeva.

“Children are striving to this. Children want to visit many countries. They liked Astana (Nur-Sultan) very much. They want to come back. We will be very happy if there are more such contests,” said Violetta Korotich, who led artists from Barnaul, Russia.

Students from the capital’s Children’s Art School No. 2, part of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) Club, played Kazakh national and classical instruments. The ceremony was attended by diplomatic mission heads accredited in the country and cultural and art workers from Kazakhstan and other nations.

The event was organised by the Nur-Sultan Children’s Art School, Nur-Sultan Education Department, Kulanshi Centre for Contemporary Art, Byta Charitable Foundation for the Support of Creative Talents of Young People, Kazakh Academy of Arts and International Union of Educator-Artists representative office in the country.
Newsletter

Related Articles

Saudi Press
0:00
0:00
Close
British Tourist Dies Following Hair Transplant in Turkey, Police Investigate
WhatsApp Users Targeted in New Scam Involving Account Takeovers
Trump Deploys Nuclear Submarines After Threats from Former Russian President Medvedev
Germany’s Economic Breakdown and the Return of Militarization: From Industrial Collapse to a New Offensive Strategy
IMF Upgrades Global Growth Forecast as Weaker Dollar Supports Outlook
Politics is a good business: Barack Obama’s Reported Net Worth Growth, 1990–2025
"Crazy Thing": OpenAI's Sam Altman Warns Of AI Voice Fraud Crisis In Banking
Japanese Prime Minister Vows to Stay After Coalition Loses Upper House Majority
President Trump Diagnosed with Chronic Venous Insufficiency After Leg Swelling
Man Dies After Being Pulled Into MRI Machine Due to Metal Chain in New York Clinic
FIFA Pressured to Rethink World Cup Calendar Due to Climate Change
"Can You Hit Moscow?" Trump Asked Zelensky To Make Putin "Feel The Pain"
Nvidia Becomes World’s First Four‑Trillion‑Dollar Company Amid AI Boom
Iranian President Reportedly Injured During Israeli Strike on Secret Facility
Kurdistan Workers Party Takes Symbolic Step Towards Peace in Northern Iraq
BRICS Expands Membership with Indonesia and Ten New Partner Countries
Elon Musk Founds a Party Following a Poll on X: "You Wanted It – You Got It!"
AI Raises Alarms Over Long-Term Job Security
Saudi Arabia Maintains Ties with Iran Despite Israel Conflict
Russia Formally Recognizes Taliban Government in Afghanistan
Mediators Edge Closer to Israel-Hamas Ceasefire Agreement
Emirates Airline Expands Market Share with New $20 Million Campaign
House Oversight Committee Subpoenas Former Jill Biden Aide Amid Investigation into Alleged Concealment of President Biden's Cognitive Health
Amazon Reaches Major Automation Milestone with Over One Million Robots
Meta Announces Formation of Ambitious AI Unit, Meta Superintelligence Labs
China Unveils Miniature Insect-Like Surveillance Drone
Marc Marquez Claims Victory at Dutch Grand Prix Amidst Family Misfortune
Iran Executes Alleged Israeli Spies and Arrests Hundreds Amid Post-War Crackdown
Trump Asserts Readiness for Further Strikes on Iran Amid Nuclear Tensions
Iran's Parliament Votes to Suspend Cooperation with Nuclear Watchdog
Trump Announces Upcoming US-Iran Meeting Amid Controversial Airstrikes
Trump Moves to Reshape Middle East Following Israel-Iran Conflict
NATO Leaders Endorse Plan for Increased Defence Spending
U.S. Crude Oil Prices Drop Below $65 Amid Market Volatility
Explosions Rock Doha as Iranian Missiles Target Qatar
“You Have 12 Hours to Flee”: Israeli Threat Campaign Targets Surviving Iranian Officials
Oman Set to Introduce Personal Income Tax, First in Gulf
Germany and Italy Under Pressure to Repatriate $245bn of Gold from US Vaults
Iran Intensifies Crackdown on Alleged Mossad Operatives After Sabotage Claims
Trump Praises Iran’s ‘Very Weak’ Response After U.S. Strikes and Presses Israel to Pursue Peace
WATCH: Israeli forces show the aftermath of a massive airstrike at Iran's Isfahan nuclear site
We have new information and breaking details to share about what is shaping up to be a historic air campaign tonight
Six Massive Bombs Dropped on Fordow; Trump: 'A Historic Moment for the U.S., Israel, and the World'
Fordow: Deeply Buried Iranian Enrichment Site in U.S.–Israel Crosshairs
United States Conducts Precision Strikes on Iran’s Nuclear Sites
US strikes Iran nuclear sites, Trump says
Pakistan to nominate Trump for Nobel Peace Prize.
Israel Confirms Assassination of Quds Force Commander in Tehran
16 Billion Login Credentials Leaked in Unprecedented Cybersecurity Breach
Senate hearing on who was 'really running' Biden White House kicks off
×