TURKMENISTAN: ART AND LITERATURE

Prior to the Russian takeover of Turkmenistan, the country mainly consisted of several ethnic groups living together. Many of these groups were nomadic, which the Russians hated and forced them to stop. I guess it’s harder to force people to do what you say and pay taxes to you if they keep moving around from place to place. But I digress.

World's largest yurt, just outside of Mary, Turkmenistan

Many of these nomadic clans live in yurts, which are decorated with Turkmen carpets. These rugs weren’t just used as floor coverings, but they used them as bags, wall coverings, and door hangings as well. Today, many of these rugs are produced to be exported to other nearby countries; Pakistan and Iran are huge fans of these rugs. These rugs are characterized by their natural dyes (although some synthetic dyes may be used in commercially made ones now), and many are a reddish or brown/tan color. They also tend to use geometric repeating patterns. Some of these patterns have a particular meaning behind them, and some were representative of different clans.

Jewelry has a special place in Turkmen society. Not only is it worn because it’s pretty, but it’s also worn for spiritual reasons as well as to show their standing in society. Silver is commonly used, and it’s often decorated with precious and semi-precious stones. The stones themselves have special meanings to them as well; and some of these stones, they believe have magical powers to them (wonder which stone wards of coronavirus?). 

Another unique part of Turkmen culture is a type of hat known as the telpek hat. These high, shaggy hats made out of black sheepskin look kind of like afros from a distance. However, I think they can come in different styles and other colors. Worn by men in traditional dress, they’re typically accompanied by a white shirt underneath a red robe. Women, on the other hand, typically wore a long slack dress over a pair of thin pants that were usually embroidered at the ankle -- with of course, jewelry! Today, they wear more Western-style clothes.

As far as Western-style painting arts goes, it didn’t really take off until the 20th century. Some of the names to look for include Durdy Bayramov (active during the Soviet era, he was given the highest honor of People’s Artist of Turkmen SSR, known for his portraits, still lifes, and landscapes), Husein Huseinov (known for his landscape painting, he’s also the artistic director for several films), Izzat Klychev (the name that sounds like a question, also a People’s Artist of Turkmen SSR recipient, known for his painting series “My Turkmenia”), Byashim Nurali (painter, art teacher, was killed in an air crash in 1965), and Amangeldy Hydyr (has a focus on nature and Turkmen history, his works are often included in exhibitions on Turkmen art).

by Izzat Klychev

Throughout the country, the Turkmen language is the most widely spoken language used. Many people who live in the capital of Ashgabat also speak Russian, though. Most of their early works were passed down by word of mouth. There were bards known as bakhshi who would recite these pieces of literature or historical tales. Later on, Turkmen literature grew out of influences of Persian literature as well as Uzbek, Turkish, and Azerbaijani traditions. Even under Russian control, Turkmen literature continued to be produced.

Magtymguly Pyragy

Two poets stand out as representing Turkmen poetry and literature. Magtymguly Pyragy is not only an 18th-century poet but was also a sufi and spiritual leader. His poetry generally centered around philosophy, and he was dubbed the father of Turkmen literature. Because he often wrote in Turkmen and not in Persian, one of the main languages of poetry in that area, and because he promoted a unified Turkmenistan, he became a central figure in the country’s history. There are tons of streets and buildings named after him.

Also writing in the late 18th century and early 19th century, Mämmetweli Kemine was a satirical poet of the time. There’s not a lot of information about him out there that wasn’t already the same short, uncited abstract copy and pasted verbatim on most sites I pulled up. However, I did manage to find the article in Turkmen that I ran through Google Translate. It turns out that he switched schools to attend a madrassa in Bukhara, which changed his life. He would often sit around and talk about poetry and music, and he had a lot of close ties with many of the contemporary poets of the day. Many of his poems were centered around life, social relations, and what he thought of as universal love.

Berdi Kerbabayev

One 20th-century author to note is Berdi Kerbabayev. He’s one of the most prominent authors of that century and is most widely known for his 1940 novel Aygïtlï ädim (The Decisive Step) and his 1957 novel Nebit-Dag. Not only was he a novelist, he also wrote quite a few plays and poems and completed several translations.

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KAZAKHSTAN: ART AND LITERATURE

Because of the Kazakh’s tradition of primarily being a nomadic, horseback riding people, traditional arts were mainly relegated to having a practical use. Not that it didn’t look artistic at the same time, it just had to be useful. Textiles such as clothing, hats, and carpets/rugs were designed using a variety of embroidery and beading techniques to decorate it.  Felt, wool, and leather were often used in making these items. Wealthier people were able to afford clothing with gold and silver threads in it. Silver jewelry items were also commonly made. 

 

The traditional Kazakh home is called a yurt. These rudimentary homes are basically like a round tent with walls made of latticed wood or bamboo and a pitched cone-like roof. Many of these homes are designed to be packed up and carried with them to another location, much like how the teepees of the North American Indians were designed. A few designs, however, are built on wooden platforms for a more permanent design. 

During the Russian occupation, every building that was built was done purely out of functionality. There was no life in these lackluster buildings. When the country gained its independence and the Russians left, mosques and other buildings began popping up across the country again. Some of these mosques are built rather elaborately with much skill and care. The city of Astana hired Japanese architecture firms to create the city as well as some of its most iconic buildings. This modernity adds to its futuristic skyline. Today, there is a national push toward preserving their traditional arts after decades of arts suppression. Arts festivals and galleries showcasing the best of Kazakh artists dot the major cities and an appreciation toward the traditional arts is felt across the nation. 

The earliest form of literature was in the form of oral poetry; however, there have been mentions of these poetic traditions found inscribed on rocks. Typically during this time, the vast majority of the languages spoken were various Turkic languages and dialects. Like other cultures during these days, a major portion of these poems was about kings, warriors, and heroic legends. Book of the Dede Korkut and Oguz Name are two of the most well-known examples of literature from this period. 

During the period of Russian occupancy, Russian language literature was produced in Kazakhstan. One of the most prolific authors of this period was Abay Qunanbayuli. He’s often thought of as the father of modern Kazakh literature. He spent much of his time promoting Kazakh culture and Kazakh folk stories. Not only did he spend his time trying to preserve his own culture, but he also wrote about his feelings and views on Russian colonialism, especially noted in his book The Book of Words. 

Abay Qunanbayuli

Today, the country has a strong feeling toward its own literature, and the government actively promotes and awards up-and-coming authors with a variety of awards and prizes. Pretty much every genre of literature is covered by Kazakh writers, from women’s equality issues to science fiction to poetry. They are also pushing to have many of their works translated into other languages as well. Although some writers write in Kazakh, many writers publish their works in Russian in order to have a better chance on the international market. And certainly, many Kazakh writers have been the recipients of several Russian literary awards.

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