Contemporary Kazakh artist and film director. Her works include multi-channel videos, photographs, mixed media installations, and performances.
Key methods in Menlibayeva's work include symbolism, surrealism, futurism, and allegory. Key themes include globalization, futurism, memory, cultural identity, and power.
A. Menlibayeva studied painting under Kazakh artists Gani Bayanov (1985–1986) and Sergei Maslov (1986–1987), both members of the Union of Artists of Kazakhstan. She continued her education at the T. K. Zhurgenov Kazakh National Academy of Arts (Department of Decorative and Applied Arts, Almaty; 1987–1992). During her studies, A. Menlibayeva was a member of the art groups Green Triangle and Group of Four (1988–mid-1990s) and continued to work with S. Maslov (1988–1995).
According to the artist, her work consists of exploring “mystical anthropomorphism.” In her works, Menlibayeva reflects on nomadic aesthetics (Exodus, 2009) and Soviet futurism. She explores the history and cultural past of Kazakhstan in relation to issues of ecology, self-colonization of memory, patriarchy, and feminism (Lessons of Femininity (Girl and Peri), 2013). Some of her video works include staged and documentary scenes (short film Kurchatov 22, 2012). They feature contemporary textiles (My Silk Road to You, 2011) and AI tools (AI Realism Qantar, 2022).
A. Menlibayeva is the recipient of numerous Kazakhstani and international awards, laureate of the international film festival Kino der Kunst (Munich, 2013) and Dame of the Order of Arts and Literature (French Ministry of Culture, 2017). She has participated in art residencies (Art Residency, Australia, 2019). Her works are presented in the Tselinny archive (AI Realism Qantar, 2022), at the biennial The Open World (Thailand, 2023–2024), the 56th Venice Biennale Union of the Fire and Water (Italy, 2015), and the exhibitions The Other Kabul remains of the Garden (Kunstmuseum Thun, Switzerland, 2022), GENESIS (Origin Art Museum, UAE, 2021), Transoxiana Dreams (De. Groen Fine Art Collection, Netherlands, 2019), Green, Yellow, Red and Green again (TSE gallery, Kazakhstan, 2018).
A. Menlibayeva's work is included in the Tselinny Archive (AI Realism Qantar, 2022).
Photograph provided by Almagul Menlibayeva