A bow to nature: an international exhibition will be held in Semey
An important meeting was held within the walls of Shakarim University with representatives of the Asian Forest Cooperation Organization (AFoCO). The discussion was attended by faculty and students of the university, as well as representatives of the Semey Ormany state forest natural reserve.
The main purpose of the meeting was to discuss the content and organizational issues of the “Ash to Art” exhibition, which will be organized as part of a joint project with AFoCO. This exhibition is dedicated to the large-scale forest fire that occurred in 2023 in the Abay region. The tragic event claimed the lives of 14 people and left a deep sad mark in the history of the region.
The opening of the exhibition is scheduled for June 8 in the city of Semey. This date is symbolic - it was on this day that a large forest fire started. The exhibition in Semey will last two weeks. Then, on July 6, on the eve of the celebration of the Day of the Capital of Kazakhstan, the continuation of the exhibition will open in the capital - the city of Astana, where it will be presented to the public for three weeks.
During a meeting dedicated to discussing the concept of an exhibition on the topic of nature conservation, representatives of AFoCO and artists from the Republic of Korea, who specially arrived in Semey, spoke about the work done. Among the guests were AFoCO project team leader Dr. LEE Seonghan, program officer JO Yun Jin Anna, artist JEONG Chang-i, photographer YOU Changho, and AFoCO project consultant Kairat Egezhanov. The guests reported that they visited possible sites for the exhibition and held meetings with representatives of local executive bodies.
During the discussion, participants asked questions about the content and format of the exhibition, as well as mechanisms for attracting audiences, and made their suggestions. Particular attention was paid to the issues of environmental education of youth, as well as the formation of a culture of nature protection through the combination of art and science.
Ash to Art is not just a collection of works of art. This is an initiative that, through the language of art, raises issues of the climate crisis, natural disasters and their prevention. The project is designed to attract public attention to the problems of forest fire prevention, nature conservation and the formation of environmental culture. Art is not only an aesthetic value, but also a powerful tool that encourages reflection and responsibility.
This initiative is not only a shining example of international cooperation, but also an important project calling not to forget the tragedies of the past and to learn from them. The “Ash to Art” exhibition, through artistic language, will tell the story of a forest that turned into ashes, and will once again remind you of the importance of maintaining harmony between man and nature.
