Fine art is one of the oldest forms of art. Archaeologists still find new cave paintings that depict the lives of our prehistoric ancestors. Thousands of years have gone, man has changed dramatically, and painting is still popular among people. Over the years, it has developed and modernized, a great many different styles and directions have appeared, artists whose work is so very different from each other. Collectors of fine art masterpieces began to appear, then more and more people were drawn to the beautiful: the first galleries were opened, where the works of various artists were collected.
Surely, many of you also like to visit such galleries and exhibitions. And people who often visit art museums will agree that each of them has its own unique features, despite the similar themes. Somewhere more attention is paid to contemporary artists, somewhere to the classics. But in the museum named after Albikhan Kasteev, national color is of great importance. Do you want to plunge into the atmosphere of Kazakh creativity? Then you should definitely visit this gallery.
A bit of history
The history of the A. Kasteev Museum of Art dates back to 1935, it was then that the state art gallery named after Taras Shevchenko was created in the capital of Kazakhstan. Her discovery was an exhibition of works of art in honor of the fifteenth anniversary of the formation of the Kazakh SSR. In 1970, another landmark institution in the fate of the Kasteev Museum was founded. The Museum of Folk Applied Arts of the Republic of Kazakhstan has opened.
Six years later, that is, in 1976, the two collections merged. So the new State Museum of Arts of the Kazakh Republic was formed. Especially for him, a new spacious building was built, which could accommodate all the exhibits. Now we know this gallery as a museum named after Kasteev. The cultural institution has been named after him since 1984.
In whose honor is the museum named? Abilkhan Kasteev - who is it?
Albikhan Kasteev is a famous watercolor painter in Kazakhstan, who painted in the twentieth century in the spirit of socialist realism. He became the founder of the Kazakh school of painting, made a huge contribution to the development of culture and art of his country, for which he was awarded the title of People's Artist of the Kazakh SSR. Now, the Kasteyev Museum is named after the artist. Here you can also see his works, for example, The Amangeldy's Army or Talas Territory, which depict the usual, everyday life of Kazakhs.
Artist's House
In order to get acquainted with the artist’s work, with his biography, you can visit not only the art gallery, but A. Kasteev’s house-museum, which is located in the eastern part of Almaty, on Bekkhozhin street, at number 6A. By the way, the house was built specifically for the artist’s large family. This building was recreated as it was during the life of Kasteev. Household items, furniture, clothes - all rooms are furnished as if the owner of the house still lives here with his wife and children.
On the walls are photographs of Albihan Kasteyev and his early works, in the windows there are archive documents that can tell facts from the artist’s life. This museum can be reached on Tuesday and Wednesday from ten in the morning to six in the evening, on Thursdays visitors are expected from ten to five hours. The rest of the week the institution is closed.
Collection
Collection of the State Museum of Art. And Kasteyeva has more than twenty thousand copies. Most of them can be seen in several rooms (the rest are stored in storage rooms). The first of them presents paintings by Kazakh artists, the next is devoted to the decorative and applied art of national masters, and the third room contains works by foreign artists.
Research activity
In addition to the exhibition, the Kasteyev Museum conducts research and educational activities. To achieve these goals, a special library was organized, the center of innovative technologies in the field of art. The art workshop also operates at the museum, where painting, graphic and other fine art classes are held for children and adults.
How to get to the museum?
It is located at: Almaty city, Koktem – 3 microdistrict, house number 22/1. Gallery doors are open to visitors every day of the week, except Mondays, from ten in the morning to six in the evening. At the same time, ticket offices stop working half an hour before the closing of exhibitions. Every last Friday of the month the museum is closed on a sanitary day.
Ticket price
To view the exposition, you need to purchase an entrance ticket, the cost of which is 500 tenge, which in translation to Russian rubles is approximately 90-100 rubles. There is a discount for pensioners and students - the price of a reduced ticket for them will be 300 tenge, that is, a little more than 50 rubles. For schoolchildren, a ticket will cost even less - at 200 tenge - about 30-40 rubles.
Reviews of the State Museum of Art. A. Kasteyeva for the most part is positive, so we confidently recommend it to all lovers of fine art.