The Guild of Puppeteers of Kyrgyzstan has opened a doll exhibition at the House of Artists once again. This time, visitors can see works created by the masters of the Kyrgyz State Puppet Theater named after Musa Jangaziev, including Mariam Ablakova and Jumgalbek Beyshebaev.
The Creative Potential of Puppets
The exhibition includes both well-known theatrical characters and original artistic works. Audiences can explore the variety of techniques and styles used by contemporary puppeteers.As part of the exhibition, Mariam Ablakova, the chief artist of the theater, presented puppets from the repertoire, including characters from the play "Alice in Wonderland," as well as a little mouse and other heroes.
“When it comes to the Puppet Theater, many only imagine marionettes. We had few of them in our theater, but we decided to change that and created several such puppets,” she shares.
Also on display are characters from "The Little Prince" — the prince himself and the fox. The fox, for example, moves so skillfully that audiences feel as if it comes to life on stage.
As Mariam says, puppets are interesting not only to children.
“The theater has performances for the very young, as well as for those who can ponder the plots. Every age will find something for itself,” she adds.
The exhibition also includes fragments of mini-decorations, such as the interiors of rich and poor yurts, where miniature dolls create the atmosphere of the performances.
Visitors can see a variety of theatrical puppets: flat puppets, those operated at floor level, and giant ones that require several puppeteers.
The process of creating puppets is very complex and multi-layered. First, the artist develops a sketch, then individual parts are handed over to the masters.
“For example, the head of the puppet goes to a master who thinks through its movements — how the mouth will open, how the eyes will move,” explains Mariam Ablakova.
Most puppets are made from papier-mâché. First, a model is created from plasticine, then a plaster mold is made from it, onto which papier-mâché is applied, forming the base of the puppet.
Mythical Images of the Puppeteer
Works by Jumgalbek Beyshebaev are presented in the format of small plastic forms. The exhibition features four of his stylized figures, created in a unique authorial style.The artist claims that the images arise during the creative process.
“These characters are mythical — creatures like mermaids or centaurs do not exist in reality. I am fascinated by the study of mythology and legends, and there are no limits here,” he shares.
He also notes that he has moved away from the traditional image of puppets with hair and created his own style, for example, the braids are made from the same material as the figures.
From "Lukomorye" to Paper Dolls
Inna Konyukhova presented a unique work at the exhibition — a kokoshnik, symbolizing a poem by Alexander Pushkin. The headdress is adorned with elements from the famous fairy tale: here you can see a learned cat, a mermaid, and a hut on chicken legs. All details are handmade.The work is interesting because it is made from secondary materials. Almost all elements are remnants from previous projects and production waste, notes Inna Konyukhova.
In one corner of the hall, there is a composition made of paper, where you can change the outfits of girls and boys celebrating the spring equinox — Nowruz.
On the same day, puppeteers celebrate their professional holiday — International Puppeteer Day. Inna prepared a composition specifically for this event.
“Puppets can be created from different materials and in various techniques. My work is a nostalgia for childhood when we played with paper dolls and changed their outfits. I wanted to show children that a puppet can be made from simple paper,” she shares.
Steampunk in Puppet Art
The exhibition was visited by renowned artist Leonid Gubsky, who noted the rich variety of works and techniques presented.“This exhibition is interesting for its multi-facetedness. Various styles of puppet creation are represented here. For example, pay attention to this little car — it harmoniously combines metal and wood,” he noted.
In his opinion, such exhibitions attract viewers because they allow them to see unusual creative solutions and get acquainted with the world of authorial dolls, each of which has its own character and story.
Leonid also highly appreciated the steampunk direction in the works of Nikolai Zhestovsky.
Nikolai himself admits that he sometimes spends the whole day working in his workshop, creating new compositions.
In his works, he uses various items: old lamps from televisions, computer parts, metal elements, and even driftwood. However, some parts he finds in online stores or at flea markets.
At the same time, Nikolai most often works with wood and metal.
“Wood is a warm material, which is always pleasant to work with,” he shares.
According to the master, steampunk style fans are generally men, as his works have a steel character.
The doll exhibition will be open until March 15.
