Producing Local Color

Don't know how familiar my readers are with IADA's work so I'll give a brief overview. International Art Development Association (IADA) is a non-governmental and non-profit organisation, dedicated to supporting and promoting contemporary art from Kazakhstan and from Central Asia more broadly. I first learned of IADA's activities during the VIENNAFAIR one year ago. This International Art Development Association was exciting to me because it is looking forward to expanding across borders to embrace fresh creativity, exciting and ambitious art-projects. IADA’s work is situated in a growing group of activists and artists seeking to build strong and sound international representation of Kazakh artists. Their work looks like the quest for a dynamic, innovative, creative content contained in a very specific geographical area. Here is the interview with my wonderfully eccentric friend, Dina Baitassova and her trusted partner Indira Dyussebayeva.

Describe a little bit about the founding of and motivation behind the IADA.

Established in 2013 by Dina Baitassova, Indira Dyussebayeva and Laurent Lehmann, International Art Development Association (IADA) aims to encourage cultural exchanges and organizes artistic events around the world, with the focus on Europe.

What are the key focus areas of the Association and what kinds of initiatives are you currently involved in?

IADA’s mission focuses on building a network of cultural partnerships, linking Kazakh artists to institutions but also to art markets. The organization acts in accordance with the recognition of an aesthetic specificity of this region on the international art scene. Through its actions all around the world, IADA is well positioned to promote the vitality, the visibility and the diversity of Central Asian contemporary art. We have just finished On Love and Other Teachers.. Young artists group show in Almaty during the contemporary art festival Artbatfest. During a month the city was transformed into a open museum with programmes of performances, public art installations, master classes and exhibitions. We try to grow the interest to contemporary art in these regions and to involve more and more people into our manifestations. The next ones are FIAC and a charity auction for Human Rights Watch in Paris.

Who is in your boat ? How many people and what positions do they play ?

We are currently 5 working for IADA. Dina BAITASSOVA based between Paris and Almaty, curator is in charge of finding new artists and projects. Indira Dyussebayeva based in London is responsible for developing the network in London and present them in different art scenes (institutions, auction houses) and finally Laurent Lehmann, who is in charge of development of the association, marketing and pr. Two other people are in charge of the day to day of the association and communication.

What were some of the key challenges during the past year?

The real challenge was the start with a very ambitious show in Venice Biennale, One step/pe forward and also finding funds for further projects. As governmental support to these kind of private initiatives are not developed in Kazakhstan we faced the necessity of investing our own funds at the first time.

As you look ahead, what’s on the horizon for the IADA over the next five years?

We seek to develop more and more our association. We are looking for sponsors, grants, partnerships with galleries but also European and national public institutions. In addition, our primary mission is to promote art of Central Asia and to demonstrate to the Kazakh state the importance of participating in international art events to promote the cultural development of the country.

I read that your main goals are to build strong relationship with state museums, galleries and art funds in forming new common programs. Obviously, this motto could apply to any general overview. But how does this idea become a reality?

The establishment of relationship with state museums, galleries and art funds in forming new common programs is long-term project. All the institutions and museums that we meet are very interested in showcasing Kazakh contemporary art before everyone as it’s still quiet rare and underrepresented. We try to highlight our artists and participate in art contest to promote our association and Kazakh culture. We are actually very glad that we started consulting the new National Museum of Astana and developing international relations with European institutions.

Who are the young artists you work with? Could you highlight someone?

Recently we have opened with a great success the exhibition of young Kazakh artists during Artbatfest – On Love and Other Teachers… The works of Assel Kadyrkhanova, Ada Yu, Syrlybek Bekbotayev, Sholpan SHarbakova, Kamilla Gabdullina& Suinbike Suleimenova and Annya Sand were especially noticed. The works of 16 young artists were presented in the underground parking of a commercial center Almaly, in the heart of Almaty. I’m sure that his show will definitely rest in public’s mind and history.

What do you see as the main changes in Kazakhstan over the last period?

Attitude towards contemporary art, which is now turning to be more positive. General eagerness in cultural development, here i’m talking about all cultural institutions, museums, theatres, concert halls etc. People are more curious to understand contemporary art.

How would you judge the development of Central Asian galleries and their exhibits? Did those galleries already find their way into the Western art market?

It was developing quiet slowly last ten years, local galleries haven’t find an entrance to the western market, however foreigners buy the artworks quiet often when they come to Kazakhstan. I think there will be a huge change very shortly, but at the moment I don’t know any of the well-established gallery that is known in the Western art market.

Could you talk a little about the newly formed Art Fairs in Kazakhstan? My understanding is that mostly local initiatives?

There is no any artfairs yet in Kazakhstan, although some initiatives were undertaken in this sense, but of none of them were completed. I think that if an international fair will open its satellite in Almaty it could be more successful then local initiatives.

What would you say are the dominant trends in the Kazakhstan contemporary art scene?

In the absence of contemporary art museums and centers there is a tendency to show art around commercial centers, inside or outside of it. In the newly opened Esentai Mall Botero and Plensa sculptures are admired by the visitors. I think it’s a good idea to bring art where is could really be seen by a huge amount of people, even if commercial center is basically not the place to showcase art. Some pop-up galleries are opened there too. Globally, the is a growing interest in Kazakh artists everywhere, Art Dubai made a focus on Central Asia and Causasse, Viennafair.