Interview with Shaizada Baikenova

OCA Magazine: Tell us, please, about yourself and your creative activity / work.
Shaizada Baikenova: Full member of the Academy of Arts of the Republic of Kazakhstan (academician). Member of the Union of Designers of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Director of the publishing house “Balalar adebieti” LLP, Member of ECG (London), Associate Professor of the Eurasian Technological University..

OCA: How did you choose your path and who is your role model in the creative space or life?
SB: As a child I loved to draw, write stories and put on plays. My idols were my parents and my grandfather (my father’s older brother), I wanted to be like them – hard working, kind and caring towards others. My idols in art were Goya, Poussin and Renaissance artists.

OCA: What is your main achievement in 2023-2024?
SB: Participation in the ECG competition, IV Voices of Friends: Poetry and Art, category ‘Artwork’. Where I had the honour to be published in the art catalogue and to receive the diploma of the IV Voices of Friends: Poetry and Art Competition.

OCA: What is the main feature that makes you and your art/work unique?
SB: Individuality, my creative style in my work.

OCA: Tell us, please, about the events or projects of the Eurasian Creative Guild (London) and projects that you have already taken part in and how does ECG influence your creativity and success in your work?
SB: Due to my busy schedule, I was only able to participate in the festival IV Voices of Friends from 15-18 September 2024 in Burabay (Kazakhstan): Poetry and Art. I am very happy that the festival helped me to find good, creative friends! I would like to express my gratitude to the organizers of the competition, to the audience and to the other participants for your work, Our hearts, Our voices sounded in unison. It was a bright event this year, bringing together more than 500 guests from all over the world and 60 poets, novelists, artists, musicians and filmmakers from 15 countries: Kazakhstan, UK, USA, Ukraine, Lithuania, Israel, Russia, Finland, Uzbekistan, Georgia, Bulgaria, Armenia, Canada, UAE and Belarus, who shared their creativity in person and online.

OCA: What is your motivation and the main aim of your creativity?
SB: Of course, as a creative person the main motive was to show my works to a wider audience and most importantly to be understood and accepted.

OCA: What would you wish for the members of the Guild and other creative people, just starting their career?
SB: To Guild members and newcomers, I would first of all wish them to reach creative heights. Never stop at what you’ve achieved and always be in search of something new—whether in technique or style of presentation.