'Kazakhstan: The Great Steppe Treasures' exhibition opened at Guimet National Museum of Asian Arts in Paris
The exhibition “Kazakhstan: The Great Steppe Treasures” has been officially opened at the Guimet National Museum of Asian Arts in Paris, Kazinform News Agency learned from the Kazakh Ministry of Culture and Information.
Addressing the attendees, Kazakh Minister Aida Balayeva noted uniqueness of the exhibits spanning almost four thousand years of the Great Steppe’s cultural phenomenon in the world history.
She thanked the French colleagues for the support in organization of the exhibition and underscored the importance of the cultural interaction between Kazakhstan and France.
“In recent years, the Kazakh-French relations have undergone considerable changes. The mutual visits of the two countries’ presidents give a new impulse to the bilateral cooperation development. I express my gratitude to my colleague, Minister Rachida Dati, and Director of the Guimet Museum Yannick Lintz, and the Museum team for high professionalism, coordinated work, and support in organization of this exhibition,” said Aida Balayeva.
The exposition features 35 rare artifacts from the collections of the National Museum of Kazakhstan and Azret Sultan State Historical and Cultural Museum-Reserve, which reflect the key stages of the history of Kazakhstan.
“Today we witness the birth of a new history of development of the relations between our countries,” the Kazakh Minister said.
The visitors will see unique items reflecting nomadic culture and its connection with the development of statehood: from the Hunno-Sarmatian period, medieval Turkic khanates, the Golden Horde and to the Kazakh Khanate. The exhibition will also feature an immersive multimedia content which will allow the visitors to explore the cultural heritage of Kazakhstan.
According to Yannick Lintz, Director of the Guimet Museum, the idea to hold the exhibition was born a year ago, during the French President’s visit to Kazakhstan, with the purpose to familiarize the French public with the culture of Kazakhstan and its importance in the world history.
"You will see five “Giocondas” of Kazakhstan at this exhibition," Yannick Lintz said. "The exhibition offers an immersive trip to Kazakhstan, with its landscapes, sounds, and, in particular, its five masterpieces or ensembles of masterpieces, reflecting he five stages of this civilization: from the ancient history to Kazakhstan of the 18th century," he noted.
The exhibition will run until March 24, 2025.
Presidents of Kazakhstan and France – Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Emmanuel Macron – are expected to visit it today.
On November 4, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev arrived in France for a state visit. He was greeted by Foreign Minister of France Jean-Noël Barrot at the airport of Paris.
On the same day, Kazakhstan’s Minister of Culture and Information Aida Balayeva had a meeting with Minister of Culture of France Rachida Dati. The meeting ended with signing a number of agreements, including a declaration of intent for cooperation in the field of museums and cultural heritage, as well as a memorandum of understanding between the National Museum of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Musée Guimet.
On the threshold of the Kazakh President’s state visit, the 13th meeting of the Kazakhstan-France Business Council took place, during which 24 agreements worth $2.2 billion tenge were signed.
