1987 — participant and organizer of alternative art exhibitions (among the first informal shows in Alma-Ata) of the underground group “Green Triangle”.

1989 — “UNDERGROUND,” exhibition of independent artists from “Green Triangle,” Museum of Geology (Alma-Ata).
“Z.T.” exhibition at the Museum of the Book (Alma-Ata).
“Crossroads” exhibition, Directorate of Art Exhibitions (Alma-Ata).
Exhibition with “Remnants of the New Wild,” Okhta Exhibition Hall, St. Petersburg.

1990 — performance “Burning Painting” in a working settlement (burned all his works and cello; documented in the film “Abreviat-Ura” by I. Poluyahtov), Alma-Ata.

1991 — “Z.T.” exhibition, Union of Architects (Alma-Ata).
“Z.T.” exhibition, “Rukhani” rock club (Alma-Ata).
Action on John Lennon’s birthday at the cathedral square, “Z.T.” (Alma-Ata).
“Z.T.” exhibition at the House of Cinema (Alma-Ata).

1992 — “The Reverse Side of Paintings,” “Z.T.” exhibition, Union of Artists’ Exhibition Hall with financial support from Makhabat LLP.

1993 — Republican youth exhibition “Zhiger,” A. Kasteyev State Museum of Arts (Alma-Ata).

1999 — performance “Sacrifice” as part of the “Group of Four” exhibition, ARK Gallery, Gallery Parade.
“Be-bopping Artists and Their Dissonant Painting,” as part of the first jazz festival dedicated to Duke Ellington’s 100th anniversary, Palace of Students, Alma-Ata.

2000 — “Triangular Time,” Ular Gallery, Alma-Ata.
April Fool’s exhibition, Bishkek.

2001 — art project “Sun”: symposium and exhibition of Uyghur artists, A. Kasteyev State Museum of Arts.
Group exhibition, Shezhire Gallery, InterContinental Hotel, Astana.

2009 — “ALLIMINIUM”, contemporary art biennale, Baku.

2014 — “Connection,” exhibition marking 25 years of “Z.T.,” White Piano Gallery.

2015 — “Eurasia,” contemporary art exhibition of Kazakhstan, Erarta Museum, St. Petersburg.

2018 — “Tamyz / August” exhibition, TSE Gallery, Astana.
Installation “Energy of the Word,” Astana Art Fest.

Ablikim: “Here’s what I think: if a thoughtful, creative person has something to say, it doesn’t matter what tools they have on hand — brushes and paints, words, a camera or a drum, scraps of paper or canvas, a fogged-up window or sand on the lakeshore.
A signal rising from within suddenly asks to come out and takes shape.
Mastery lies in not missing that moment. Because everything around us is a miracle created by the Almighty!”

Solo and Collaborative ZitAbl Exhibitions

2000 — “Like Day and Night,” Tribuna Gallery
2002 — “Gods and Marionettes,” ARK Gallery
2007 — “Eggheads on the Conveyor of Time,” Tengri-Umai Gallery
2014 — “Ahyr-Zaman,” White Piano Gallery
2018 — “From Hatred to Love…,” A. Kasteyev State Museum of Arts, Central Exhibition Hall (ZitAbl & Aura)

AWARDS
1989
– Diploma to members of the “Green Triangle” group for non-traditional artistic exploration (Ablikim Akmullaev)
– Finalists of the IX International Arts Festival “Master Class” in Saint Petersburg (ZITABL)

2000
– 1st Prize from the International Jury at the II Annual Exhibition of the CSCCA “Communication. Interaction Practices,” Almaty (ZITABL)

2001
– 2nd Prize in the documentary film competition “Art Against Poverty” (nomination: social PSA), “Media-Aitys” project (ZITABL)

2005
– 1st Prize at the Bishkek April Fool’s “Standing Socks” Competition (ZITABL)

2007
– 3rd Prize in the essay competition “Kazakhstan is My Destiny”

2015
– International “Golden Asyk” Award in the category “For Contribution to the Development of Contemporary Art in Kazakhstan”

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The author of the text is Zitta Sultanbaeva.

Photograph provided by Ablikim Akmullayev.

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