TCA Interviews - The Times Of Central Asia

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TCA Interviews

Memory Is a Living Matter: An Interview with Artist Gauhar Bisengaliyeva

On July 24, Almaty's Kasteyev Museum of Arts hosted the opening of Gauhar Bisengalieva’s solo exhibition, Matter of Memory. The artist, who works under the name Arukhan, recently returned from Italy, where her solo exhibition, The Spirit of the Steppe, was presented at the historic Palazzo Marchesale, in Italy’s southern Apulia region. Her new project at the Kasteyev Museum continues her exploration of memory. Working with felt, steppe grasses, and other organic materials, Arukhan's work explores the processes of time and the transformation of matter. In an interview with The Times of Central Asia, Gauhar Bisengaliyeva discusses her artistic practice and the ideas behind Matter of Memory. TCA: The title of the exhibition is Matter of Memory. What does the idea of memory as matter mean to you? At what point did memory cease to be an abstract concept for you and become an artistic medium? Gauhar Bisengaliyeva: For me, Matter of Memory is a space that I create, a space for reflection. Felt is the foundation of my artistic language. For me, felt is a material that preserves the memory of the steppe. It embodies the energy of the earth, the wisdom of generations, and humanity’s connection to nature. Through it, I feel my roots. For me, the steppe is not an image of the past, but a living force that nourishes me, allows me to grow, and determines the direction of my creativity. That is why my works are neither a return to the past nor an attempt to preserve it. I am interested in memory as a living substance that continues to act in the present and becomes a source of the future. That is why Matter of Memory is not an exhibition about the past. It is a space where memory becomes a living matter, capable of nourishing a person, bringing them back to their roots, and revealing new meanings. [caption id="attachment_53543" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Photo: Theo Frost[/caption] TCA: In your works, you use felt, steppe grasses, and other organic materials. Why have these particular materials become your primary means of expression? Gauhar Bisengaliyeva: I work with natural materials, each of which goes through its own life cycle and therefore possesses its own memory. Felt, steppe grasses, wool, plants – they have already lived their lives, absorbing time, light, wind, and earth. Working with time holds a special place in my practice. Using my own innovative methods of processing wool, I explore how time can manifest itself in the material. For me, time cannot be seen directly, but it can be felt through changes in texture, light, structure, and the very state of the felt. [caption id="attachment_53544" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Photo: Theo Frost[/caption] TCA: You have been collaborating with the State Archive of Film, Photo, and Audio Documents of Kazakhstan for many years. How does working with archives influence your art? Gauhar Bisengaliyeva: It all began with my family archive. Later, this personal story led me to collaborate with the State Archive of Film, Photographic, and Audio Documents...

Russia's War in Ukraine

How the Russia–Ukraine War Is Reshaping Central Asia’s Geopolitical Balance

More than four years after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the conflict continues to alter political and economic relations across the former Soviet space. In an interview with The Times of Central Asia, Uzbek political scientist Mukhtor Nazirov examined Moscow’s evolving regional role, Central Asia’s search for wider external partnerships, and the areas in which Russia remains difficult to replace. “The war changed Russia,” Nazirov said. “It became more closed, more militarized, and its political logic increasingly became military. Central Asian countries suddenly found themselves dealing with a Russia that was no longer the same as it had been before the war.” Before 2022, Russia’s relations with Central Asia rested on long-established political, economic, and security ties. Since the invasion, international isolation and wartime pressures have complicated that relationship. “The war consumed everything,” Nazirov explained. “It influenced not only politics and the economy, but also public thinking, the country’s openness, its ideology, and the overall direction of the state. As Russia changed during the war, its dialogue with Central Asian countries became increasingly difficult.” “Central Asian states gained a moral justification to look for other options,” he said. “Russia is no longer the Russia it used to be.” Russia nevertheless remains deeply embedded in the region’s economy. Infrastructure, logistics networks, export routes, and labor migration still bind Central Asian states to the Russian market. Kazakhstan exports most of its oil through Russia’s Novorossiysk port, while trade from Uzbekistan and other countries continues to rely heavily on northern corridors. Millions of Central Asian citizens also work in Russia. “The economic foundation still exists,” Nazirov told TCA. “Much of Central Asia remains part of an economic structure that was formed during the Soviet period. Infrastructure is shared, and many export routes still pass through Russia.” However, the durability of Moscow’s influence is under closer scrutiny as other powers expand their regional presence. “Political closeness alone is not enough,” Nazirov said. “Any partnership eventually comes down to economics. If Russia wants to remain influential, it must have a strong economic foundation. If it cannot provide that, then others will naturally begin filling the gap.” China and the European Union have expanded their economic engagement as sanctions and wartime demands have constrained Russia. Interest has also grown in the Middle Corridor, or Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, which offers an alternative to routes through Russia. “The rhetoric surrounding the Middle Corridor became much stronger during the war,” he said. “The project already existed, but the war created momentum.” The EU’s Global Gateway initiative and new connectivity financing have given Central Asian governments additional channels for trade, investment, and transport. “This space is being filled partly by China and partly by the European Union,” he said. “They are proposing alternatives, and naturally Central Asian countries are turning toward those opportunities.” Russia remains the main destination for Central Asian labor migrants, although governments are pursuing employment opportunities in South Korea, Europe, and the Gulf states. “I would not say diversification has already taken place,” Nazirov...

Interfaith Dialogue

Kazakhstan Interfaith Center Chair Gulsana Kozhabay: Astana Congress Must Turn Dialogue into Action

Kazakhstan wants the Astana Congress of the Leaders of World and Traditional Religions to take a more active role in conflict prevention and postwar reconciliation, including through permanent expert engagement and a possible Islamic-Jewish roundtable in Israel in 2027. In an interview with The Times of Central Asia, Gulsana Kozhabay, chair of the board of the International Center for Interfaith and Interreligious Dialogue, explains how the Congress could expand its work between its triennial gatherings while remaining politically neutral. Speaking in a personal capacity, she discusses the limits of religious diplomacy in the conflict in Gaza. She also addresses Kazakhstan’s ambition to develop its own school in this field and explains why she believes interfaith dialogue must increasingly lead to practical action rather than declarations alone. TCA: What role can Kazakhstan’s humanitarian and spiritual diplomacy play in promoting peace, and how can the International Center contribute? Kozhabay: Let us begin by explaining in simple terms what spiritual diplomacy means. In the context of this interview, we primarily understand it as religious diplomacy. It has several layers. It includes relations between different religions, dialogue within a single religion, engagement among the Abrahamic faiths, and work at local, regional and international levels. Religious leaders and organizations can work with states, international organizations and civil society, or act independently. Many researchers believe that we are living in a post-secular period. Jürgen Habermas is one of the principal theorists associated with this approach. Modernization and technological development have clearly not pushed religion to the margins. Religions continue to play an important role in society, culture, and even politics. In many countries, including the Vatican, states in the Middle East, Egypt, Israel, the United States, and Russia, religious leaders command considerable trust, exercise influence in society, and have direct access to very large audiences. Habermas’s work is widely associated with the concept of a post-secular society and the continuing place of religion in public life. Religious diplomacy cannot, of course, prevent or resolve every conflict and crisis, or replace political negotiations. Its main value lies in preserving channels of communication alongside political dialogue, or when that dialogue becomes difficult. Reducing mistrust, countering hate speech, and explaining to the public the value of peace and human life are important elements of religious diplomacy and are reflected in the Astana Peace Declaration 2025. In his ecological encyclical Laudato si’, Pope Francis wrote that religions should engage in dialogue to protect nature, defend the poor, and build networks of respect and fraternity. Kazakhstan has always supported peaceful dialogue and a constructive international agenda. This is one of our strengths. We do not claim the role of a great power and do not seek to impose our decisions on other countries. Kazakhstan acts as a middle power that can build bridges, bring different parties to the same table, and offer neutral venues for dialogue. This is also part of Kazakhstan’s soft power. Kazakhstan is trusted as a state that consistently supports dialogue at the political level and among cultures,...

Railway Manufacturing

Alstom’s Jérôme Boyet: Kazakhstan Is Building a Regional Rail Manufacturing Hub

Kazakhstan has spent the past decade developing domestic rail manufacturing, supported by foreign investment and increased local production. The sector is also beginning to supply export markets. Kazakhstan is also preparing the next phase of railway expansion to increase network capacity and accommodate growing transit volumes. Alstom has operated in Kazakhstan since 2010, developing locomotive production and maintenance facilities while increasing the manufacture of components in the country. Its Astana plant has also produced locomotives for export. In an interview with The Times of Central Asia, Jérôme Boyet, Alstom’s managing director for Western and Central Asia, discusses the company’s investment plans and efforts to increase local production. He also considers how new locomotive projects and the Middle Corridor could affect Kazakhstan’s prospects as a regional rail manufacturing center. TCA: Alstom has now been operating in Kazakhstan for 15 years and has become one of the country’s largest industrial investors. What are the company’s current investment priorities, and how has its business in Kazakhstan evolved over that period? Jérôme Boyet: Over the past 15 years, Kazakhstan has become much more than a market for Alstom. It has evolved into one of our key manufacturing and engineering centers for Western and Central Asia. To date, we have delivered almost 500 electric locomotive sections to Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ) and another 50 to international customers. Our work extends well beyond manufacturing. Through service teams based across Kazakhstan, we maintain KTZ’s locomotive fleet throughout its life cycle, helping ensure the locomotives remain safe, reliable, and available for operation. To strengthen these capabilities, we launched a €50 million investment program in 2023 covering four service depots in Almaty, Astana, Shu, and Arys. The upgraded facilities are already beginning to deliver results and are scheduled to become fully operational by the end of 2027. The program will establish a nationwide maintenance network, reduce locomotive downtime, and further strengthen Kazakhstan’s technical expertise in fleet maintenance. These investments build on the industrial base we have developed over the past decade and a half. Today, our priority is to integrate manufacturing, maintenance, digital diagnostics, and local engineering expertise into a single industrial ecosystem capable of supporting the continued modernization of Kazakhstan’s railway network and growing freight traffic along strategic routes such as the Middle Corridor. TCA: How large is Alstom’s workforce in Kazakhstan today, and what role does workforce development play in your localization strategy? Jérôme Boyet: Alstom currently employs more than 1,300 people in Kazakhstan, with our workforce divided almost equally between manufacturing and service activities. Around 20% of our employees are women, while the average length of service exceeds four years. Importantly, 98% of our employees are citizens of Kazakhstan, reflecting the strong technical capabilities that have been developed locally. For us, localization goes beyond manufacturing components. It also means developing knowledge, engineering expertise, and professional skills within Kazakhstan. Our employees work across the entire industrial cycle from engineering, welding, and assembly to testing, diagnostics, and maintenance. As new locomotive and service projects move forward, we continue...

TCA Interviews

From Instagram to Hollywood: How Kazakhstan’s Yerlan Tanay Became a Sought-After Colorist

Kazakhstani colorist Yerlan Tanay has built an international career in post-production, working with major companies including The Mill and Company 3. Now based in Los Angeles and working freelance, he has experienced both the opportunities and instability of Hollywood’s highly competitive market. His long-term goal is to move further into feature films. Tanay career changed after he began sharing his work on Instagram, where he was approached about joining The Mill. In this interview with The Times of Central Asia, he explains how that move opened the door to Hollywood and what he learned inside leading post-production studios. TCA: You have worked as a colorist for eight years, including three years in Hollywood. You were initially invited to join the renowned British post-production company The Mill, which had an office in Los Angeles. How did they find you? Tanay: I was invited by Paul Yacono, the head of The Mill’s Los Angeles office. He is a well-known Australian colorist who has lived and worked in the United States for many years. He graded films for David Fincher and Chloé Zhao and also worked on major series such as House of Cards and music videos for international artists. We met on Instagram and spent almost two years simply communicating, following each other’s work, and occasionally discussing projects. Then one day, he wrote to me: “Would you like to have a Zoom call? We have an offer for you.” During the call, he asked whether I would consider moving to the United States. He then explained that a position had opened and that they were looking for a colorist from outside the American market; someone with a different professional background. It came as a complete surprise to me. TCA: So, Instagram literally changed your career? Tanay: Yes, absolutely. A producer once told me something very simple: “You do good work, but nobody knows who you are.” That was when I realized I needed somewhere to show my work. To be honest, I was skeptical about Instagram at first. I thought it was a platform where people posted pictures of food or makeup, not a place for a professional portfolio. But once I started posting my projects regularly, things gradually changed. My audience grew, people began noticing me, and then job offers started coming in. I was probably also fortunate to enter the platform at a time when professionals were only beginning to use Instagram actively for work. TCA: Last year, The Mill ran into financial difficulties and was sold and restructured. What changed for you? Tanay: I spent two very productive years there, but I had to leave together with the old team. After that, I received an offer from Company 3. To give you an idea, it is one of the companies that sets the standard for color grading in global cinema. If you ask any good cinematographer or director what Company 3 is, there is no need to explain it. Everyone knows the brand. You could say Company 3 is...

TCA Interviews

Interview: How Kazakhstan Plans to Finance Its Next Railway Expansion

Kazakhstan is preparing for the next phase of its railway expansion. Alongside the major lines already under construction, the authorities are considering new routes and upgrades to existing sections intended to increase network capacity, serve industrial producers, and accommodate growing transit volumes. Implementing those plans will require substantial investment. Some projects may be financed by the state, while others are expected to rely on private capital, international financial institutions, and public-private partnerships. Kazakhstan’s Vice Minister of Transport, Zhanibek Taizhanov, spoke to The Times of Central Asia about construction deadlines, proposed new routes, and whether the country’s railway priorities are beginning to shift. TCA: Kazakhstan is building several major railway projects at the same time. When are the main lines expected to be completed? Zhanibek Taizhanov: The Moyynty-Kyzylzhar and Darbaza-Maktaaral railway lines are scheduled to enter operation by the end of this year. Construction of the Bakhty-Ayagoz line is expected to be completed by the end of 2027. In addition, trial train operations began on the Almaty bypass line in December last year. The authorities previously instructed the Transport Ministry and Kazakhstan Temir Zholy to launch the Moyynty-Kyzylzhar and Darbaza-Maktaaral lines by the end of 2026 and commission Bakhty-Ayagoz by the end of 2027. TCA: The government has called for preparations for the next stage of railway development. Which projects is the ministry considering, and what needs are they intended to address? Zhanibek Taizhanov: The Ministry of Transport, together with Kazakhstan Temir Zholy and the relevant government agencies, has been tasked with examining the next phase of railway infrastructure development, taking into account projected growth in freight flows, transit traffic, and the economy’s long-term needs. The projects under consideration include the construction of second tracks on the Arys-Kazaly section. The project is intended to increase the capacity and carrying capability of one of the key sections of the railway network, support sustained freight growth, and improve transport services for the country’s southern and western regions; construction of the Inderbor-Uralsk railway to improve regional connectivity, make freight transportation more efficient, and create additional opportunities for the industrial and logistics development of western Kazakhstan; modernization of the Kyzylzhar-Shubarkol-Yesil section, which would increase the capacity of a route used to transport coal and mining products and improve logistics for industrial enterprises; modernization of the Inderbor-Makat railway section to improve the transportation of oil, gas, and industrial cargo and develop transport infrastructure in the western regions; and development of railway infrastructure in the Karagaily industrial zone in the Karaganda Region to serve existing and planned production facilities, attract investment, and support the region’s industrial development. These projects are being examined because the railway network needs to develop in step with growing domestic, export, and transit freight volumes. Their implementation would increase infrastructure capacity, meet the needs of industry and logistics, and create additional conditions for the socioeconomic development of the regions. TCA: Existing projects largely expand transit and export routes, while many of the proposed lines are linked to industrial enterprises. Does this signal a...