INTERVIEW WITH KLARA KABYLGAZINA

OCA Magazine: Tell us, please, about yourself and your creative activity/work.
Klara Kabylgazina: I have 50 years of creative experience and 40 years of teaching experience. In 1973-75 I was a literary employee of the Almaty regional newspaper; in 1976-79 – an employee of the department of own correspondents of the newspaper “Socialist Kazakhstan”; in 1980-81 – an employee of the Kazakh television; in 1981-82 – a teacher of the Almaty Higher Party School. Since 1982 she has been head of the press department of Al-Farabi KazNU, senior lecturer and associate professor. In 2006-2010 she was editor-in-chief of the state youth magazine ‘Arai’. She is currently a professor at Al-Farabi KazNU.

OCA: How did you choose your path and who is your role model in the creative space or life?
KK: My creativity has been influenced by my mother. She was a gentle soul who loved music.

OCA: What is your main achievement in 2023-2024?
KK: My greatest achievement in 2023-2024 is to finish my documentary novel, now I want to finish the English translation.

OCA: What is the main feature that makes you and your art/work unique?
KK: I am satisfied and I want my work to be appreciated by foreign readers.

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?
KK: At the Open Eurasian Literary Festival-2019 in Brussels, the work was shortlisted in the journalism section and took second place in the prose category.In 2023 at the Burabai Forum, the work was awarded the medal of the Polish writer Barbara Jurkowska-Nawrocka.

OCA: What is your motivation and the main aim of your creativity?
KK: My current goal is to publish a documentary novel in English and to achieve creative success.

OCA: What would you wish for the members of the Guild and other creative people, just starting their career?
KK: The Guild has paved the way for many creative people in Kazakhstan. I wish success to those who follow this path. Special thanks to Marat Akhmedjanov and his team.