B.BUBIKANOVA ART PRIZE 2.0 "Unveiling Boundaries: Power, Identity and Body"

This year, the competition received 130 submissions from 124 artists and 6 collectives from 24 cities. The independent expert jury, consisting of Yuliya Sorokina, Ulan Djaparov, Solvita Krese and Bjorn Geldhof, carefully reviewed all submissions and selected the finalists whose works most clearly reflect the competition’s theme — "Unveiling Boundaries: Power, Identity, and Body." This year’s theme explores the notions of corporeality, identity, and social structures—central themes in Bakhyt Bubikanova’s work. Her art, spanning performance, painting, installation, and video, served as a powerful commentary on gender, femininity, and power dynamics. Through her works, Bubikanova proposed a rethinking of established societal norms, highlighting the complexity and multifaceted nature of the human experience.

We thank the jury members for their work and their contribution to the development of contemporary art in the region!

The finalists of the second B. Bubikanova Art Prize are:

1. Munara Abdukakharova
2. Alina Arystanbaeva
3. Rakhat Asangulova-Kyzy
4. Zamanbap Art
5. Roman Zakharov
6. Meruyert Kunakova
7. Intizor Otaniyozova
8. Lesha Pavlov
9. Sonata Raiymkulova
10. Zoya Falkova

At the closing event of the finalists exhibition - June 1, 2025, the selection commission from State Museum of Art named after A. Kasteev will choose one work for inclusion in the museum’s collection. The winner of the competition will receive a prize of 1,000,000 tenge from Aspan Gallery, and their work will become part of the largest public collection of art in Kazakhstan.

We congratulate all the finalists and thank each participant for submitting applications!

Exhibition dates: 29 April - 1 June 2025

Events:

Tuesday April 29 | 18:00-21:00 - Vernissage, Aspan Gallery

Opening hours:

Tue-Sat: 11 am - 7 pm

Sun: 12 pm - 6 pm

Adress: Villa Boutiques & Restaurants, 140 A/3 Al Farabi, lower ground floor, Almaty. Free entrance.