Photo exhibition captures Astana city landmarks

Energy Sunday 01/July/2018 21:19 PM
By: Times News Service
Photo exhibition captures Astana city landmarks

Muscat: A photo exhibition commemorating the birth of Kazakhstan’s capital city Astana drew dozens of residents and Omanis to the Bait Al Zubair.
The “Astana-The Heart of Eurasia” photo exhibition was organised by the Embassy of Kazakhstan in Oman, displaying photos that capture the most emblematic monuments and buildings in the Kazakh capital.
It was inaugurated by Kazakh Ambassador Yerzhin Mukesh and Dr. Mohammed Abdul Karim Shahi, General Manager of the Bait Al Zubair Foundation.
“Bait Al Zubair always seeks to strengthen ties between countries, with our current focus leading to partnerships with international companies and embassies,” Shahi told the Times of Oman.
“This is a result of our aim to enhance dialogue and cultural exchange by sharing the beauty of different cultures from around the world with the local communities in Oman.”
From a barren patch of land known as “Akmola” or “the white grave,” Astana has rapidly grown into one of the most state-of-the-art cities in the world.
Designated the Central Asian country’s capital in 1998, Astana was unveiled internationally on June 10 of the same year. In 1999, Astana was recognised as a City of Peace by Unesco. The city’s location at the heart of the Eurasian region has caused an economic boom, with Astana alone accounting for 10 per cent of the area’s gross regional product.
One of the largest symbols of Astana is the Baiterek monument. Its other unique buildings include the Palace of Peace and Accord, which was designed by British architect Norman Foster, the tent-shaped Khan Shatyr shopping mall, and Ailand, which is the world’s most distant oceanarium from the sea. There is also the iconic Hazret Sultan mosque, the Astana Opera, the Kazakh Yeli monument, the Museum of Modern Art, and the Presidential Cultural Center.
“Oman and Kazakhstan share many values, as well as strong historic legacies and heritage,” Shahi added. “These commonalities offer us a great platform to build cross-cultural, people-to-people relationships and help the next generation understand the importance of international relations on the growth of our cultural sector.”
“This exhibition and other upcoming cultural activities demonstrate the importance we place on upholding our cultural responsibility and long-term vision of becoming Oman’s premier cultural destination,” he said.
The exhibition also highlights Bait Al Zubair’s continued growth, which has seen it launch a number of highly successful cultural initiatives this year.