Treasures of the great Kazakhstan steppe come to Paris

HE ‘Tobyl Thinker‘ he looks up at the sky, his deep eyes exaggerating his pensive look as he contemplates the world beyond. His asymmetrical and disproportionate body is oriented in a different way, giving him a feel. introvert energy.

The stylized figure can be a Modern version of Auguste Rodin’s famous contemplative nude The large-scale version of ‘The Thinker’, which was first designed between 1880 and 1881, can be seen in the Rodin Museum in Paris in 1904.

But ‘Tobyl Thinker’, also known as ‘Tobyl Thinker’man scanning the sky‘ was created from grey-brown sandstone in the Qostanai region of Northern Kazakhstan in 3-2 BC.

statuevery polished, a good example of this First artistic expressions of Kazakhstan and conveys a sense of inner life and spirituality. Although thousands of years apart, the two statues are a timeless reflection of human existence.

‘Tobyl Thinker’, usually On display at the National Museum of Kazakhstancan now be ‘seen in exhibition’ at the Guimet Museum in ParisKazakhstan: Empires of the Great Steppe‘.

According to Guimet’s director, art historian Yannick Lintz, “Tobyl Thinker”exhibition talisman“I wish it had stayed there forever. ‘Kazakhstan, the treasures of the great steppe’ takes us Throughout 5,000 years of history The country was divided into five parts. Kazakhstan was, as Lintz said, “the crossroads of civilizations.” East meets West Nomadic traditions of empires such as the Huns, Turks and Mongols.

this interest historical intersection and good old global connections are definitely in fashion; exhibitions currently at the British Museum and British Library, Silk Road. This trend reflects a renewed appreciation for the intercultural exchanges, trade networks, and historical connections that have shaped Eurasia over the centuries.

Lintz, the exhibition “Go beyond stereotypes” show visitors with objects telling the history of Kazakhstan evolution From the first steppe cultures to the birth of modern Kazakhstan.

Treasures of the Kazakh steppes

Exhibition divided into milestonesBotai culture and the domestication of the horse, starting with the ‘Tobyl Thinker’ like Turning Point 1. Botai culture It was a society that emerged in Northern Kazakhstan around 4 BC and domesticated horses. This statue symbolizes the transition from a hunter-gatherer economy to horse and cattle breeding.

this was that basis of steppe cultureTribes’ knowledge of natural cycles, climate, and environment are linked to their survival practices and spiritual lives.

HE second turning pointview the first Scythian states, shows a nice title ‘Golden Man’, Symbol of Saka culture. The 1st millennium BC saw the emergence of major tribal groups in the Eurasian steppes of Kazakhstan, known to the Greeks and Persians as the Scythians, Sakas, and Sarmatians. really? flythrough common cultural practices, jewelery and especially the “animal style” of metalworking came to be mastered. Discovery of the ‘Golden Man’ in Issykk in 1969, adorned with golden robes cosmologically symbolic is an example of this.

tothird turning point Is that it? slangA. funeral statue Turkish culture in medieval Kazakhstan at the height of Turkish power. This solemn moustachioed figure holding the ceremonial cup represents the respect Turks have for the spirits and continuity of their ancestors.

Balbal’s anthropomorphic sculptures originate from the Altai mountains. Cradle of Turkish culture and the center of the first Turkish Khaganate in the 6th century. It was a period when nomadic and urban life mixed, with cities such as Otrar (Farab) becoming centers of commerce, art and science, and the home of the great philosopher Abu Nasr al-Farabi.

balbal one A powerful symbol of Turkish heritage. These anthropomorphic funerary stelae with male or female shapes were scattered across the steppes, the heritage and spiritual life of these nomadic peoples.

Inside fourth milestoneDevelopment of Islam, exhibition covers Kazakhstan cultural crossroads With the chandeliers of the tomb of Hodja Ahmet Yesevi. Built during the reign of Timur (Timur) between 1389 and 1405, the mausoleum is dedicated to the 12th-century Sufi poet and mystic who greatly influenced Turkish Sufism in Central Asia and is one of the most famous landmarks in Kazakhstan.

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interior decorated with six luxurious metal chandeliersIt is probably inlaid with gold and silver, typical of Islamic art of the Timurid period. Islamic art expert Lintz describes these as chandeliers. The most beautiful of Islamic art.

HE fifth milestone focus on Kanato Kazajo and the emergence of modern Kazakhstan with the beautiful papan Kazybek biy Keldibekuly (1667-1764). This fancy shelter This dress, quilted with gold and silver embroidery, is a reflection of the wealth and ceremonial life of the Kazakh elite in the 17th and 18th centuries, a sign of prosperity.

Kazybek Biy participated as a judge and diplomat. law formation and Kazakh diplomacy reflected in the tunic. Founded by the descendants of Genghis Khan in the 15th century, the Kazakh Khanate laid the foundations for a unified Kazakh identity and a nomadic or semi-nomadic-based legal system that survived until the 19th century.

‘Kazakhstan: Empires of the Great Steppe’ It coincides with the official visit of the President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to France and the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between the National Museum of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Guimet Museum in Paris. This It was first proposed during French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to Astana in 2023.

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Kazakh Minister of Culture Aida Balayeva, who was in Paris to open the exhibition, said: “The value can be realized through several pieces, It shows the main periods of our history. From the Saka period to the Kazakh Khanate.” “With the help of our French colleagues create a very modern format. And we managed to establish collaboration.”

‘Kazakhstan: Great Steppe Empires’ introduced Until March 24, 2025 inside Guimet Museum in Paris.