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Journeys of perception Alter/Native realities of modern Mongolia Invasion Letter to East Turkestan Dodeskaden Women & ways Old airport: my personal homeland Maïdyñ ïisin shyğаru Tasting ethnic politics along roadsides Nomadtitude Speed bump Identifying a leader Epic failure Anthropology & Art Catalog Trail A dream in Shambala Way to Rome
Map Icons
Trail Epic failure A dream of Shambala Journeys of perception Dodeskaden Old airport: my personal homeland Alter/Native realities of modern Mongolia Tasting ethnic politics along roadsides The way to Rome Identifying a leader Nomadtitude Maïdyñ ïisin shyğаru Speed bump Letter to East Turkestan Catalog Anthropology & Art Invasion Women & ways

Maïdyñ ïisin shyğаru

Currently in her practice Karimi is researching the topic of extinction, in relation to colonization and the post-colonized existence; resulting in natural disasters, cultural damage and the extinction of the memory.

Studying and honouring beliefs and rituals is part of this research. Maidyn isin shygaru tells a story of artist’s Mushel Zhas, a year of changes and breakthrough.

Maïdyñ ïisin shyğаru

Roads are like metaphors for movement.

Roads as volatile/transitional objects: material, social and metaphorical.

The cultural significance of roads.

The way.

This year, I took the word “road” as part of my life path, since this year I entered my second Mushyel. The traditional Kazakh calendar has a 12-year lifecycle called “Mushyel.” This centers on a belief that the transition from one cycle to another is considered to be a dangerous but important period.

The word “Mushyel” means “”part””, “”share””. Thus, the magic number “twelve” is present in many important rituals. For example, it was believed that there are 12 main parts to the body of humans and animals; the sacrificial lamb is divided into 12 parts; in a year there are 12 months.

The Mushyel Zhas (kaz. “year”) brings change and even a breakthrough.

In studying my traditions (and hence claiming them back), I carefully follow them. This year I am trying to be neat, to take care of loved ones, give away dear belongings (as the ritual says).

When I started working on Maïdyñ ïisin shyğаru I was in the middle of my Mushyel, while I slowly started feeling changes and breakthroughs.

For Maïdyñ ïisin shyğаru, I created a video about the path/road that I went along, protecting it by practicing stolen traditions and rituals that I claim and assign.

Nazira Karimi

Nazira Karimi is a Central Asian multidisciplinary artist. Currently based in Vienna, Austria, Karimi studies at the Academy of Fine Arts for her Magistra’s degree in Arts and Cultural Studies.

Prior to that, Karimi studied Stage Design and Painting at the Almaty College of Applied Arts in Almaty, Kazakhstan.

She is a part of two all female artist collectives, both based in Central Asia.

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