We invite you to attend a public reading of Chyngyz Aidarov’s diary “and I like to dash off”.

During his labour migration in Moscow, artist Chyngyz Aidarov kept a diary. In these notes, he recorded the everyday reality around him, the processes taking place in contemporary art from January to December 2018, and his own position within them.

In February 2026, the diary was published in the Kazakhstani online literary journal Dactyl. At Tselinny, it will be presented in the form of a public reading, followed by a discussion.

This is how the notebook is described by Assel Rashidova, a member of the collective Zamanbap Iskusstvo:

“keep stupid notes keep stupid notes please tell me keep stupid notes…”

“The notebook is Chyngyz Aidarov’s diary, which he accidentally finds on the streets of Moscow. He keeps the notes of its previous owner and continues them with sketches from his own life. Chyngyz writes in fragments, chaotically, constantly scolding himself for it, but this is exactly how his reality comes together: harsh everyday life, work as a loader, visits to exhibitions, excerpts from books he has read, and the search for new artistic ideas.

A6 size, easy to fit into a large pocket.”

Performers: Renata Klett and Kesha Bashinsky.

Discussion moderator: Assel Rashidova.

Invited guests: Assel Rashidova and Batyr Koichuev.

The diary was prepared for publication with the participation of Marat Raiymkulov, Assel Rashidova, Kasiet Imankulova, Batyr Koichuev, Almira Ismailova, and Irina Gumyrkina.

Assel Rashidova is a researcher and curator of contemporary art exhibitions. Since 2024, she has been a member of the group Zamanbap Iskusstvo and works with Chyngyz Aidarov’s archives.

Kasiet Imankulova is a curator of contemporary art exhibitions and has been a member of the group Zamanbap Iskusstvo since 2023.

Batyr Koichuev is a poet and interdisciplinary artist working with literature and performance, and a member of the group Zamanbap Iskusstvo.

Marat Raiymkulov is an artist working with drawing, texts, theatre, and animation. He was a member of Group 705 from 2005 to 2022 and has been a member of Zamanbap Iskusstvo since 2022.

Kesha Bashinsky is an educator, theorist, and director. His works in Almaty include Shakhmardan Comes Out of the Well, A Report for the Academy, and I Came Out of the Closet at 03:54. He is the author of texts on theatre and art for 98mag, syg.ma, and the Telegram channel nekuda pisat, and of lectures on the history and theory of theatre.

Renata Klett is an actress, singer, and educator. Since 2019, she has been a member of the troupe of the German Theatre in Almaty. She is the choir director of the Theatre for Young Audiences, as well as a composer and author of choral performances.

Almira Ismailova is a playwright, curator of the festival of contemporary Kazakhstani dramaturgy Drama.KZ 2019/2020, editor of the Drama section of the online literary journal Dactyl, and a documentary film director.

The event will take place on May 17 at 3:00 pm at 59 Masanchi Street, Almaty, Tselinny, Atelier educational space on the second floor of the center. Free admission, no registration required. Event languages: Kyrgyz and Russian.