The Kazakhstan embassy held an art competition, titled Kazakhstan – Singapore of the Steppe, recently to strengthen the cultural ties between Kazakhstan and Singapore and commemorate Kazakhstan’s 30th anniversary of independence this year.
The competition was announced on March 17, 2021, and the contestants could submit their creations in oil, gouache, water color, pencil, pastel, felt-tip pen, plasticine or a combination of all these.
The works had to be done on paper, A4 or A3 format.
Also acceptable were creations using natural materials, such as cardboard, wool, fabric and thread, and programmes for graphic modeling and design. Decorative work could be done using any technique, such as beading, embroidery, floristry, batik and stained glass.
An explanation of the work too had to be submitted.
Any child from any nationality could participate in these categories: Ages 10-15, 6-9 and up to 6 years.
In all, 27 children from Singapore, Kazakhstan, Russia, Great Britain, Malaysia and Vietnam particpated.
At the end of the competition on 19 April, 2021, the jury, which included the noted Singaporean artist Loi Cai Xiang, determined the winners in each age category and awarded them with diplomas and valuable gifts.
The other members of the jury were Kazakhstan’s Amabassadaor to Singapore Arken Arystanov, Deputy Head of Mission Yerlan Kubashev, Kusto Group Board Member Talgat Turumbayev and Honorary Secretary of the of the Singapore Press Club Santosh Kumar.
The best works were posted on the embassy’s Facebook and Instagram pages. These will also be displayed during Tulipmania-2021, an exhibition dedicated to Kazakhstan which will be staged at the Gardens by the Bay in the fall of 2021.
The winners were:
Age 10-15
1st: Zhanel Otorbaeva (Kazakhstan)
2nd: Alistar Watt (Great Britain)
3rd: Vasilisa Tkacheva (Russia)
Age 6-9
1st: Diana Bylinina (Russia)
2nd: Kaisar Batyrbek (Kazakhstan)
3rd: Anastasia Ma (Vietnam)
Up to 6 years
1st: Aizere Basbolat (Kazakhstan)
2nd: Aldiyar Batyrbek (Kazakhstan)
3rd: Ksenia Pushkayeva (Russia)
Special diplomas in the Special Insight category
David Ali-Aidarov, 13 (Kazakhstan)
Alisha Tan, 10 (Singapore)
Sofia Almakova, 9 (Russia)
The Kusto Group, a Kazakh company based in Singapore, donated the prizes, which included tickets to Universal Studios, Singapore Zoo and River Safari.
The prizes were given out on April 28, 2021, by His Excellency Arken Arystanov at the embassy.
Kazakh music, ethnographic materials and paintings and crafts were displayed during the event, which stirred emotions among the young participants and their parents and created a warm, festive atmosphere.
The Kazakh embassy expressed its deep gratitude to Ms Maral Klycheva, a visual arts teacher in Singapore, for her enthusiasm, teamwork and active participation in the preparation and conduct of the event.
