🇪🇺 TEEN European Digital Community: Willow by the Lake from Astana, Kazakhstan

Willow by the Lake

I am a visual artist from Kazakhstan, originally from a small town in the East of my country. I graduated from art school and am now close to graduating from the Kazakh National University of Arts. I have been drawing my whole life — it feels like a language I grew up with and can no longer separate from myself. My practice includes painting, illustration, and digital media, often inspired by Kazakh and Central Asian cultural aesthetics, symbolism, and emotional storytelling. Through my work, I try to create images that feel sincere, intimate, and culturally rooted, while still speaking to contemporary viewers.

The soil / the need

My path toward theatre grew naturally from visual art. For a long time, expression for me existed through images, symbols, and cultural motifs. At some point, I felt the need to bring those images into movement and space — to let them breathe. Theatre became that living environment where visual language meets body, voice, and collaboration. It showed me how stories transform when they are shared.

The first seed

A parent / family.

Tell us about that first spark

I remember my first spark quite clearly. I went to a Kazakh theatre performance about the love story of Kozy Korpesh and Bayan Sulu. I already knew the story from folklore, but seeing it live on stage felt completely different. The music, costumes, movement, and emotions made cultural memory feel alive and present.

Roots (people & experiences that shaped your path)

One of the most important experiences in my theatre journey has been the audience. I remember performing in a long production that lasted almost four hours. Many people left before it ended, but those who stayed felt different — their applause had weight. It felt conscious, present, understanding. Their support showed me that theatre creates a real connection with people who are ready to experience deeply, not just watch.

The trunk (what keeps you in theatre)

What keeps me connected to theatre is my perspective as a visual artist. I am deeply interested in everything that builds the stage world — scenography, props, light, music, and sound. These elements shape the atmosphere and emotional perception of a performance. Even when audiences do not consciously notice this work, for me it is essential. It is where visual art becomes alive.

Branches (future / desire)

A theatre director has already offered me the opportunity to work as a visual artist on a production, and I plan to try myself in this role. I want to explore how my artistic language can exist on stage, and I hope theatre will give me space for growth, collaboration, and new forms of visual expression in the coming years.

If you were a tree, what kind of tree would you be? Why?

A willow. I love willows because they grow near lakes and quietly support the beauty of landscapes that inspire artists. Their hanging branches create natural walls, almost like a shelter — a place where someone can hide, rest, or feel safe. I feel close to that quiet, protective presence.

Contact

Instagram: @doribaqyt