Kazakhstan has unveiled details for its national pavilion at the 61st Venice Biennale, titled “Qoñyr: Archive of Silence.” Curated by Syrlybek Bekbota, the exhibition features nine artists including Smail Bayaliyev, Asel Kadyrkhanova, and Ardak Mukanova, and will be hosted at the Museo Storico Navale. The presentation utilizes the Kazakh concept of "Qoñyr"—a term encompassing specific colors, sounds, and scents—to explore themes of Soviet domesticity, nuclear trauma, and cultural heritage through sound installations, video, and archival assemblages.
This pavilion marks a significant shift in Kazakhstan’s institutional approach to international representation, as it is the first time the country has selected its Venice project through an open call organized by the Ministry of Culture and Information. By responding to the late Koyo Kouoh’s overarching theme "In Minor Keys," the exhibition seeks to elevate subtle, sensory modes of perception and historical memory, positioning Kazakh contemporary art as a site of dialogue between traditional nomadic rhythms and the ruptures of the 20th century.