Who makes contemporary Uyghur art in Kazakhstan?

July 8, 2025

The Sultan Kizlar collective, comprised of four anonymous Uyghur women artists working under pseudonyms, uses contemporary art to address religious experiences and the plight of Uyghurs in China. Their first exhibition in Kazakhstan was prematurely closed, likely due to political sensitivities around Uyghur issues and religious expression. The artists explain that their "Uyghurness" transcends language or ethnicity to encompass the shared trauma of witnessing the imprisonment of hundreds of thousands of Uyghurs in China.

Who is affected

The Sultan Kizlar collective of Uyghur women artists
The approximately 270,000 Uyghurs living in Kazakhstan
Relatives and colleagues of the artists who could face scrutiny if the artists' identities were revealed
Politically active Muslims and Uyghurs in Kazakhstan who face political suspicion
Hundreds of thousands of Uyghurs imprisoned in China without cause

What action is being taken

The Sultan Kizlar collective is creating contemporary art that addresses religious experiences and the Uyghur situation
The artists are using pseudonyms to protect their identities and their families
The collective is continuing to create art despite facing restrictions and censorship
The artists are speaking out about the geopolitical situation affecting Uyghurs through artistic expression
Kazakhstan is maintaining political "neutrality" regarding Uyghur issues in China, as evidenced by President Tokayev not discussing Uyghur rights during meetings with Chinese officials

Why it matters

The artists' work brings attention to the ongoing imprisonment of hundreds of thousands of Uyghurs in China
The exhibition's closure highlights Kazakhstan's political sensitivities regarding both Uyghur issues and religious expression
The collective represents one of the few voices speaking about Uyghur issues in a region where such discussion is often suppressed
The situation demonstrates how Uyghurs have become "bargaining chips" in geopolitical tensions between major powers
Their work illustrates the challenges of maintaining cultural identity while addressing contemporary human rights concerns

What's next

The collective plans to continue creating art despite potential reluctance from curators to work with them
The artists express determination to develop new "daring" artistic projects that convey both their political stance and emotional experiences
The group hopes to continue making art in Kazakhstan or wherever opportunities arise, despite the challenges they face

Read full article from source: Global Voices