AIGERIM BEKTAYEVA
Aigerim Bektayeva’s paintings are a heartfelt expression of her love for the Kazakh people and her homeland. A technical virtuoso, the artist combines traditional oil painting practices and unconventional materials, such as decorative stones and metals applied on canvas. Bektayeva’s artistic journey is deeply influenced by her grandfather, Akhmet Bektayev, who, amidst the trials of war, saved 97 lives in a Nazi concentration camp. She inherits his patience, cordiality, and love, reflecting them through her art with kindness, perseverance, and vitality.
Her latest series is titled Bee-Loved: A Journey to Self-Acceptance and Self-Love. Using bees and their queen as a metaphor, each painting portrays different stages in the journey towards self-love, capturing both challenges and triumphs. Vibrant colors and intricate details symbolize the inherent beauty and worth within each individual, drawing parallels between the lives of bees and human experiences. The artworks encourage viewers to embrace their unique qualities, fostering a profound love and appreciation for themselves and the world, mirroring the symbiotic relationship between bees, their queen, and the hive.
Bektayeva is a Doctor of Fine Arts and a member of the Academy of Arts of the Republic of Kazakhstan. She trained at Atelier Alupi in Paris, France; Accademia d’Arte Firenze, in Florence, Italy; and ART Factory in Russia. Bektayeva has won several prestigious awards including the 2020 Order of Merit for Science, Culture and Arts Award from the International Academy of Sciences, Culture and Art, in Paris, France. She is also the founder and CEO of the ZERE School of Fine Arts in Almaty, Kazakhstan.
AIGERIM BEKTAYEVA ON
I am a Kazakh artist inspired by my love for the Kazakh people and my homeland. My work blends classical traditions with Impressionism and Expressionism, utilizing various materials like oils, acrylics, decorative stones, and metals on canvas.
My latest body of work is Bee-Loved: A Journey to Self-Acceptance and Self-Love. The series celebrates the beauty and resilience of bees and their queen, as a metaphor for self-love and self-acceptance. Each painting depicts a different stage in the journey towards loving oneself, from the challenges and struggles to the joys and triumphs. The vibrant colors and intricate details of the bees and their hive represent the inherent beauty and worth within every one of us. Bees live in beauty and create beauty, just like people. Through these paintings, the viewer is encouraged to embrace their unique qualities and cultivate a deep love and appreciation for themselves and the world, just as the bees do for their queen and hive.
