Abylkhan Kasteyev State Museum of Arts in Almaty opened an exhibition dedicated to SDGs

Today, on December 8, Abylkhan Kasteyev State Museum of Arts in Almaty hosted the official opening of installation dedicated to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The event is aimed at uniting efforts of all interested partners to achieve SDGs in the country. Kazakhstan is actively working to implement its commitments to achieve SDGs by 2030.

Opening ceremony of exposition on behalf of Economic Research Institute JSC was attended by ERI Science Advisor, KazNANS Academician Bulat Khusainov.

Photo: Bulat Khusainov tells schoolchildren about art objects illustrating SDGs.

"First of all, I would like to express my special gratitude to the Ministry of Culture and Sports of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Director of the A. Kasteyev State Museum of Arts of the Republic of Kazakhstan Shalabayeva Gulmira Kenzhebolatovna, Deputy Director of the Museum Khozhamuratova Altynzhan Sarsenbayevna and your staff for opportunity to set SDG installations in Abylkhan Kasteyev Museum, as well as to team of the United Nations Development Program in Kazakhstan for comprehensive support that allows Kazakhstan to implement measures on the way to sustainable development", Bulat Khusainov said.

Photo: Opening ceremony of exhibition. Deputy Director for Exhibitions and External Relations of A.Kasteyev State Museum of Arts of the Republic of Kazakhstan Altynzhan Khozhamuratova makes a welcoming speech 

As you know, in 2015, UN member states (including the Republic of Kazakhstan) adopted the Agenda for Sustainable Development for the period up to 2030. This ambitious action plan is aimed at ensuring the well-being of all inhabitants of our planet.

Kazakhstan, as a participant in global decision-making process, has undertaken a number of international commitments to achieve SDGs. The country has joined all major international documents related to the 2030 Development Agenda.

Process of implementing and achieving SDGs in the country is constantly monitored, both by UN representatives and by the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

To coordinate the work on implementation of the Development Agenda until 2030, the Coordination Council for SDGs was established on behalf of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan on August 15, 2018. The Secretariat is Economic Research Institute JSC, which provides expert and analytical support to Coordination Council, conducts information and explanatory work in the field of SDGs.

The Institute, together with UNDP, conducts various kinds of information work with the population, one of the directions - holding a mobile exhibition of SDGs art installations.

The SDGs art installations presented in the museum demonstrate the unity of the three components of people's well-being:

— Economic issues reflected in SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth, SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, SDG 10: Reducing Inequality, SDG12: Responsible Consumption and Production;

— Social issues presented in SDG 1: No Poverty, SDG 2 Zero Hunger, SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being, SDG 4: Quality Education, SDG 5: Gender Equality, SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy, SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities, SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions;

— Environmental issues are covered by SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation, SDG 13: Climate Action, SDG 14: Life Below Water, SDG 15: Life on Land.

All the exhibited installations of SDGs were created under order of UNDP by Kazakhstan designers from Aiken studio, which were later transferred to the Institute for information and explanatory work.

The art objects of this installation have a deep meaning associated with our history and current challenges of our time.

For example, in the area of "economic well-being" we can mention SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth, which is represented by the art object depicting a working woman with a disability. It is shown that everyone, regardless of gender, age, social status, physical limitations should have opportunities to improve their well-being and contribute to development on the principle of "no one left behind".

SDG 2: Zero Hunger can be considered within the framework of "social well-being" direction, which reflects the endurance and solidarity of our people in difficult times, that even such a dairy product as kurt can save many lives of camp prisoners from starvation. (Note: Installation of a hand holding kurt on a sunny tray recalls the heroic act of Kazakhs in 1930s, when people risking lives of their own children threw kurt at the exhausted women captives of ALZhIR (Akmola Camp of Wives of Traitors to the Motherland) so that they would not die of hunger).

In "environmental well-being" direction, SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation can be noted, which is presented in the form of a sculpture of transparent person as it symbolizes that person consists of 80% water.

"Water is the planet's main resource, the source of life. We all need to be careful with this resource because climate change is negatively affecting people's access to drinking water. According to expert forecasts, by 2040, a serious shortage of drinking water is predicted in Kazakhstan, which could have a negative impact on our economy", said academician Bulat Khusainov.

The global pandemic crisis, climate change, wildfires, and flooding around the world illustrate the importance of reorienting the economy toward sustainability.

In addition to quick and well-coordinated steps, sustainable development in today's environment requires a broader involvement of the population. Therefore, all presented installations can serve as a signal for people, including young people, to help their neighbors, protect their health, gain knowledge, provide people with equal opportunities and respect the nature and limited resources of our planet. The opening of the SDGs installation in Almaty is a good start for further steps towards sustainable development.

It is noteworthy that this year Economic Research Institute is celebrating its 60th anniversary and has been contributing to the country's sustainable development throughout all this time.

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Earlier the exposition dedicated to the Sustainable Development Goals was exhibited in Nur-Sultan on the territory of Nursultan Nazarbayev International Airport JSC within the framework of cooperation of Economic Research Institute JSC with Nursultan Nazarbayev International Airport JSC with the support of the UN Development Program.

A mobile exhibition of 17 SDG art objects was also held as part of the Civil Forum of Kazakhstan in Almaty.