Valerija Ibraeva

Born in 1955 in Tashkent (Uzbekistan), the philologist, art historian and curator Valeria Ibraeva works in Almaty (Kazakhstan) where she has been the head of the Soros Center for Contemporary Art since 1998. Following her study of philology in Tashkent and art in the Repin Institute in St. Petersburg, she was the editor for the publisher, Oner, in Kazakhstan and saw various editions through the press. In 1990 she was awarded the silver medal from the »Industrial Exhibition of the USSR.« For several years Ibraeva has written about modern film and art in Kazakhstan for Kazakhstani and international newspapers, journals and catalogues. Among her works are her articles: »What is a Center for Contemporary Art?« (1997), »Communications: Experience of Interaction« (2001) und »Väter und Söhne. Zwei Generationen neuer Künstler in Kasachstan« [Fathers and Sons: Two Generations of New Artists in Kazakhstan] (2002). In her capacity as a curator she has been interested in international art and the media which have gravitated to the interface between art and literature and embrace the theme of human rights. A sampling of these works would include »Exhibition-presentation of catalogues for 10 Kazakhstani artists« (1996), »Human Rights – are there human rights in Kazakhstan« (1999), »Transzedens« (2000), »Exhibition Dedicated to Unfreedom« (2001) und »A Political Issue: New Engagement« (2002).