Exhibition entitled ‘A world without nuclear tests’ opens in Semei

‘A World Without Nuclear Tests’ - an exhibition dedicated to the 30th anniversary of the closure of the nuclear test site has opened in the Abai Museum in Semei. It showcases more than 20 wooden sculptures reflecting the pain of the victims of the nuclear tests. The author of the works is Kurman Aimukhanbetov. He’s been creating them for 30 years being under the impression of the effects of nuclear explosions. Sculptures entitled ‘Mushroom Cloud over Animals’, ‘Mother’s Tears’ and ‘Disabled Boy’ and much more are among them.

“I found all these logs and snags on the territory of the former Semipalatinsk Test Site. Some of them seemed to be talking about what the local residents had to experience. I was merely giving them a clear sketch. My other sculptures are done by myself. For example, this is a sculpture of a 15-year-old disabled boy who has never recovered from his illness. And this is a three-legged man who has experienced the explosions of nuclear bombs. If you turn it over, you can see a snake's nest,” the sculptor said.

Translation by Assem Zhanmukhanova

Editing by Galiya Khassenkhanova