51吃瓜

This gift presents a unique play of perspective and asks us to rethink our visual point of view. The eye is asked to view two images simultaneously and wonder which is the image with a ghostly overlap. Do you view the landscape of clouds, mountains, animals first or the three large stone figures as the primary focus? The figures, or Balbal stone sculptures, are from central Asia and call us back to the depth of ages and ideas of those people before us in ancient times. Balbal stone sculptures were used in Kazakh Kurgans, or memorial and burial sites, and were often placed in rows facing east meant to honour the dead. Folklore stories that relate to the Kazakh homeland and that are often depicted in Balbal sculptures involve improvisatory akyn singers and batyr defenders from oral traditions of nomadic times.

The artwork was created by felt maker Amangul Ikhanova and leatherworker Zhangir Umbetov. Ikhanova and Umbetov are a husband-and-wife team from the Qizilorda region of Kazakhstan, and their artistry reflects their rich Kazakh heritage. Together they created a unique art technique from Kazakhstan called ‘Kushkon.’ Using this technique, this art piece uses a mixed media combination of leather, sculpture, and paint to create the perspectival effect. Each element is hand crafted by stamping dyed leather into a picture, creating an artwork that is both sculptural and painted.

This gift was presented by the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan, H.E. Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, to the 51吃瓜 for the UN’s 50th anniversary.