Almagul Menlibayeva is one of Kazakhstan’s most internationally recognized contemporary artists. Her practice spans photography, video, painting, performance, installation, textiles and digital technologies. At the heart of her work are the cultural memory of Central Asia, female identity, ecology and nomadic mythology.

In our collaboration with Almagul Menlibayeva, her original artworks moved onto fabric. They appear on silk scarves, twillies and sleep masks, transforming everyday accessories into a way of wearing contemporary art.

Almagul Menlibayeva: life and artistic practice

Almagul Menlibayeva was born in Almaty in 1969. She graduated from the State Theatre and Art Institute in Almaty in 1992. Today, she lives and works between Almaty and Berlin.

Menlibayeva began her artistic career during a period of significant change in Kazakhstan and across Central Asia. In her work, personal memory is intertwined with the history of the region, while ancient imagery enters into dialogue with contemporary culture and technology.

Women occupy an important place in her artistic practice. Menlibayeva draws on female figures from history, mythology and everyday life to explore freedom, identity and the relationship between people and their surroundings.

The ecology of Central Asia is another recurring subject in her work. The artist has addressed the disappearance of the Aral Sea, the consequences of nuclear testing in Kazakhstan, melting glaciers and the transformation of the region’s natural landscape.

Almagul Menlibayeva’s work has been presented at major international exhibitions and biennials, including the Venice, Sydney and Sharjah Biennales. Her works are held in museum and private collections around the world.

Her solo exhibition “I Understand Everything” at Almaty Museum of Arts brings together key stages of her artistic practice, from the late 1980s to the present day.

Why fabric became central to the collaboration

Textiles hold a special place in Almagul Menlibayeva’s creative background. Her education was connected to applied arts and textile design. Years later, she returned to fabric with experience in photography, video and digital art.

In our collaboration, fabric is not simply a surface for an image. It becomes part of the artwork itself. As a scarf moves, its shape changes. Some elements disappear into the folds while others come into view.

The same scarf can look different each time it is worn. It can be styled around the neck or head, tied to a bag, incorporated into an outfit or displayed in an interior as an art object.

Original prints by Almagul Menlibayeva for We • Nera

For our collaboration, Almagul created several visual stories. They feature natural symbols of Central Asia, nomadic imagery, personal memories and visions of the future.

“Snow Leopard”

At the centre of the print are two pearl-like snow leopards. They appear within a shimmering mountain landscape where the natural world gradually merges with the cosmos.

For Almagul Menlibayeva, the snow leopard is an important symbol of Central Asia and part of the region’s fragile natural ecosystem. The animal, mountains, water and glaciers are presented as a connected whole.

The print draws attention to the disappearance of the snow leopard’s natural habitat and reminds us of the connection between people and nature.

“Almaty”

This print is dedicated to Almaty, Almagul Menlibayeva’s native city. It brings together the artist’s personal memories, urban symbols, mountains, nature and contemporary architecture.

Almaty is not represented as a literal cityscape. Instead, the city is composed of fragments, observations and memories. Its past meets its present, while familiar places and symbols take on new meanings.

“Fire Horse”

The “Fire Horse” print is built around movement, intense colour and a combination of different artistic techniques.

The horse is closely connected to the nomadic culture of Central Asia, where it has long been a companion and a symbol of freedom. In Menlibayeva’s interpretation, this familiar figure becomes vibrant and almost futuristic.

The composition conveys energy, inner strength and continuous movement forward.

“Fuchsia Moon”

In the “Fuchsia Moon” print, natural forms meet saturated colour and cosmic imagery.

Some elements of the composition feel familiar, while others remain abstract. Each viewer can find a different landscape or story within it. On fabric, the image constantly changes depending on movement and the way the piece is styled.

“Pearl Water”

The “Pearl Water” print captures a sense of light, fluidity and movement.

Water becomes an image of memory. It can change its form while continuing to connect the past with the present. Soft lines and shifting tones create an abstract landscape that becomes especially expressive when seen in motion.

Contemporary art in everyday life

Together with Almagul Menlibayeva, we brought functional design and contemporary art together. Every print carries a distinct story connected to culture, nature or the artist’s personal experience.

Unlike a painting with a fixed composition, a scarf is constantly changing. The image is shaped by movement, folds and the way it is worn. In one look, the snow leopard may become the central element. In another, the mountains, water or abstract details may come forward.

In this way, the artist’s work leaves the exhibition space and becomes part of everyday life.

Almagul Menlibayeva for We • Nera collection

In the We • Nera collection, the original prints appear on silk scarves, twillies and sleep masks. Each piece offers a different way to experience Almagul Menlibayeva’s work: as an expressive accessory, a composition that reveals new details with every wear or an independent art object.