From May 6 to 8, 2026, Anar Aubakir, Senior Lecturer at the Department of Art Studies and Art Management of the Kazakh National Academy of Choreography, took part in one of the world’s leading contemporary art events — the 2026 Venice Biennale. She joined the creative team of the National Pavilion of the Republic of Kazakhstan curated by Syrlybek Bekbot.

The Kazakh pavilion project, “Qoñyr: The Archive of Silence,” explores the concept of “Qoñyr” — a unique audiovisual and spiritual register intrinsic to Kazakh culture. Through the melancholic tonality of Abyken Khasenov’s küy, the artists reinterpret historical memory and the traumas of the twentieth century, transforming them into the space of “silent” art — sound installations, video art, and material-based artistic practices.

A special place in the exhibition was occupied by Anar Aubakir’s work “Matrix of the New Subject” (on the theme of Qoñyr: The Dissolution of Beauty). Using family relics spanning the period from the 1970s to 2026, the artist explores the transformation of personal history and everyday artifacts over time. The artistic statement unites memory, materiality, and cultural identity, revealing the interconnection between the past and the present.

For the Kazakh National Academy of Choreography, the participation of its faculty member in the Venice Biennale became a significant event, highlighting the high level of integration between academic art studies and the international artistic process. Such experience contributes to the development of the Academy’s educational environment and strengthens its presence in the global cultural sphere.

As part of the professional program, the delegation also attended preview exhibitions for professional audiences held at the Biennale’s key venues — Giardini and Arsenale. Particular attention was given to the world-renowned private collections Prada Collection and Pinault Collection, as well as the exhibition project “As Above, So Below” by the One Ocean Foundation and other international exhibitions.

Participation in events of such scale enables the integration of current global trends into the educational process of the Department of Art Studies and Art Management, enriching the training of future art managers and critics with unique practical case studies from leading international institutions.