Nurlan noted that interest in his work has significantly increased. “I was born and raised in Maman, and after finishing school, I entered the Academy of Arts [National Academy of Arts]. Since then, I have been working with clay that we extract in our area. At the beginning of my career, I mainly attracted foreign tourists, but now local residents also order clay bowls and large dishes for beshbarmak from me. One bowl costs 200 soms — this is a bit more expensive than glass ones, but people, appreciating the quality, prefer clay,” he shared.
The master creates a variety of products and shares his plans. “Currently, I am making flower pots, which are great as gifts. I also often make souvenirs with national patterns. Small items take about an hour to make, while larger ones require inspiration (smiles). I bring clay from Jyrgalan and Kadji-Sai. Many want to learn this craft, but it requires skill, precision, time, and, most importantly, love for the work,” he noted.
Nurlan is convinced that to promote tourism in the Ak-Suu district, it is necessary to preserve and popularize national traditions. “Foreign tourists are always interested in the everyday life of the local population. Our traditions and way of life can become a real exhibition in themselves. I reached out to the residents asking them to pass on ancient items that their ancestors used. People supported my initiative — I was given copper samovars, leather goods, and other items. So far, I have collected about 30 exhibits, including items from Naryn, Chui, and Issyk-Kul regions. We have started working on creating an ethnocomplex in our village,” he reported.
In the ethnocomplex, both ancient and ethnographic items will be presented. This will become the first tourist attraction in our village,” Kydybaev added.
