The A. Kasteyev State Museum of Arts of the Republic of Kazakhstan hosted the grand opening of an anniversary exhibition dedicated to the 75th birthday of Agymsaly Duzeikhanov – an artist whose name is inextricably linked with shaping the visual identity of Kazakhstan's history. The opening ceremony brought together art connoisseurs, colleagues, and all those for whom the master's work has become part of their personal perception of national culture.

The legacy of A. Duzeikhanov is not merely painting and graphics – it is an entire era captured in images. The artist created a recognizable pantheon of steppe heroes, from ancient rulers and legendary batyrs to women, elders, and children, whose faces reflect the very essence of the people. His brush gave life to portraits of Abylai Khan, Abulkhair Khan, Tomiris, Kultegin, Mode Qaghan, Oghuz Khan, as well as epic characters – Alpamys, Koblandy, Er Targyn, Kambar Batyr, Koroghly, and the Golden Man.

Yet behind the monumental canvases of the historical genre lies another, no less important facet of his talent. His oeuvre also makes room for lyricism and poetic tenderness. Works such as "Koktem" (Spring), "Nauryz," "Girl in Saukele," "Mother and Child," "Kyz Zhibek," and many others demonstrate the artist's attention to the inner world of man, the beauty of traditional costume, ceremonial rites, and family values. It is precisely in these pieces that the very life – for the sake of which feats were accomplished and batyrs fought – is revealed.

A special place in A. Duzeikhanov's creative biography belongs to book illustration. Through his works, several generations of Kazakhstani people first "saw" the heroes of epics, khans, and warriors – exactly as the artist envisioned them. He did not merely accompany texts; he created a visible history that would always remain in the readers' memory.

Among the most significant pages of his legacy is his participation in the creation of the first national currency. In 1992, the artist joined the authorial group working on the design of the banknotes of independent Kazakhstan. It was his brush that produced the images of Abai, Abulkhair Khan, and Abylai Khan that appeared on the first bills. This project became a unique example of how art directly participates in state-building, shaping the visual symbols of a new era.

Agymsaly Duzeikhanov is an artist who created an entire world – a world where history comes alive, where heroes of the past become contemporaries, and where culture acquires tangible features. His works are not merely paintings; they are a bridge between times, connecting the past and the present.

The anniversary exhibition offers a rare opportunity to see the master's work in its full scope. The exposition covers all periods of his career – from student sketches to mature historical canvases. Among the exhibits are the early "Self-Portrait with a Friend" (1974), still lifes, graphic series, book illustrations, lithographs, watercolours, and gouaches.

The museum's halls feature works from the museum's own collections, the family collection, as well as from private holdings. The exhibition is complemented by rare archival documents, photographs, original sketches, as well as video and multimedia materials that tell the story of the master's life and creative path.

The exhibition "The Spirit of the Great Steppe" will remain open until September 27. It is not merely a tribute to an outstanding artist – it is an invitation to a dialogue with history, to reflection on what makes us a people, and to an awareness of the role of art in preserving national identity.

Prepared by Galiya KALIYEVA

The author's photo