Today, the museum of Abai Kazakh National Pedagogical University hosted the opening ceremony of the personal exhibition titled “Küsh atasyn tanımas” by renowned artist and Honored Worker of Culture Erkin Kaishybek. The exhibition is dedicated to the 155th anniversary of the birth of the legendary Kazakh wrestler Kazhyumukan Munaitpasuly.

Erkin Bazarghaliuly aims to convey the spiritual heritage of the Kazakh people, the history of national sports, and the image of great strongmen through visual art. By combining art and sport, he has created distinctive works. The exhibition features around 50 paintings depicting Kazhyumukan Munaitpasuly and other prominent Kazakh wrestlers.

During the opening ceremony, welcoming remarks were delivered by Vice-Rector for Strategy and Internationalization Aigul Toleutaykyzy, Vice-Rector for Social Development Maksat Donesuly, Chairman of the Veterans Council Berikzhan Almukhambetov, and Dean of the Faculty of Arts Karim Alimkhanuly.

The work of professional artist and educator Erkin Kaishybek is distinguished by its deep and expressive portrayal of historical figures in wrestling through painting. Nearly twenty works dedicated to Kazhyumukan Munaitpasuly reflect the wrestler’s entire life and reveal his character in depth.

Multi-figure compositions such as “Young Wrestler,” “Performing Among the People,” “Champion of America,” “Champion of Asia and Africa,” and “Pilgrimage” vividly convey the spirit of the era through emotional and psychological depth. Paintings like “Kazhyumukan and the Persian Wrestler Mashrut,” “Kazhyumukan and the Turkish Wrestler Nurla,” and “The Duel with Sarakiki” highlight intense action and dynamic movement, showcasing the wrestler’s strength and fame. Portraits including “Ceremonial Portrait,” “With King Sigismund’s Belt,” “Aged Wrestler,” and “Kazhyumukan and Poddubny” are created with remarkable precision based on historical sources and archival photographs, reflecting the artist’s research-oriented approach.

Erkin Kaishybek is a master of portrait art. His works also prominently feature contemporary sports figures. Among them are Olympic champions Zhaksylyk Ushkempirov and Shamil Serikov, the so-called “second Kazhyumukan” Abilseit Aikhanov, and renowned wrestler Daulet Turlykhanov. The exhibition also includes portraits of Baluan Sholak and Imanzhusip Kutpanuly.

Promoting national spirit and honoring the legacy of Kazakh wrestlers through art, the exhibition will be open to museum visitors for one week.

Abai University Media Center