Baibek Yermekov — Hero of Socialist Labour (1948) and one of the organisers of collective-farm development in Kazakhstan. He was born on 15 February 1900 at the V. I. Chapaev State Farm in Keles District, Shymkent Region (now Saryagash District, Turkistan Region).
He began his working life in 1918 as an irrigation-channel worker. He became a member of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union in 1939. From 1930 to 1937 and again from 1944 to 1952, he served as chairman of the Kyzyl Asker collective farm in Keles District. Under his leadership, the farm harvested 31 centners of cotton per hectare in 1934–1937 and 85.5 centners of seed cotton per hectare in 1944–1952.
He was elected to the Supreme Soviet of the USSR for its first, second and third convocations. His awards included the Order of Lenin, the Order of the Badge of Honour, which he received twice, and the Order of the Patriotic War, Second Class. In 1948, he was awarded the title Hero of Socialist Labour.
- Tasova (1923)
She was born in Otrar District and graduated from the Turkistan Pedagogical College in 1941. In 1978, she was awarded the title Hero of Socialist Labour.
From 1947 to 1961, she worked as an instructor at the Shymkent Regional Committee of the Communist Party of Kazakhstan, head of a department at the city party committee, a teacher and deputy head of studies at School No. 7, and director of Girls’ Boarding School No. 2. From 1961 to 1985, she served as director of Boarding School No. 12 in Shymkent and as deputy chair of the regional teachers’ society council.
- Tasova received the titles “Excellent Worker in Public Education of the USSR” and “Excellent Worker in Public Education of the Kazakh SSR.” She was elected a deputy of the Shymkent Regional and City Councils of People’s Deputies. She also served as a delegate to the All-Union Teachers’ Congresses in 1968 and 1978 and to the Second and Fourth Congresses of Teachers of Kazakhstan. She was awarded the Orders of Lenin and the Red Banner of Labour, as well as medals.
- Bopova (1933–2000)
A veteran of labour and an honorary citizen of the region (2003). She graduated from the Shymkent Pedagogical Institute in 1960 and also studied at the Higher Party School under the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union.
She began her career in 1948 as a librarian at a secondary school in Arys. From 1950 to 1959, she held various positions, including secretary and typist at the Arys District Komsomol Committee, head of its records section, technical secretary and instructor at the district party committee, deputy head of the organisational and party-work department of the district Komsomol committee, head of the science and educational institutions department, and deputy chair of the regional executive committee.
She was awarded the Order of the Badge of Honour in 1971 and the Order of the Red Banner of Labour in 1980, as well as the commemorative medals “Astana” and “10 Years of Independence of the Republic of Kazakhstan.”
Outstanding Figures in the Arts
- Zhandarbekov (1905–1973)
A singer, actor, director and teacher, he was one of the founders of professional national theatre in Kazakhstan. He was awarded the title People’s Artist of Kazakhstan in 1936.
In 1918, he studied at the Tashkent Pedagogical College. In 1928–1929, he attended the All-Union State Institute of Cinematography in Moscow. From 1926 to 1934, he performed at the Kazakh Drama Theatre, and from 1934 to 1944, at the Kazakh Musical Theatre, which later became the Opera and Ballet Theatre.
From 1944 to 1948, he served as artistic director of the Kazakh Opera and Ballet Theatre, and from 1953 to 1955, as its director. From 1961 until the end of his life, he taught at the Almaty Conservatory. He was awarded the Orders of the Red Banner of Labour and the Badge of Honour.
- Ilyayev (1918–1991)
A master of decorative and applied arts, he became a member of the USSR Union of Artists in 1957. He served in the Second World War.
He graduated from the Tashkent Art College in 1936. From 1945 to 1960, he headed an art and production workshop in Shymkent, and from 1960 to 1978, he directed an art school.
Ilyayev created approximately 15,000 ornamental designs for carpets, syrmak felt rugs, alasha woven rugs and baskur decorative bands. He paid particular attention to the flowing forms of patterns, the elegance of curved lines, clarity and harmony.
In 1958, 88 of his works were exhibited in Moscow during the Decade of Kazakh Literature and Art, where they received high praise. The artist systematically studied and incorporated zoomorphic, floral and geometric motifs into his work. More than 500 of his works became part of the collections of art galleries and art funds in Kazakhstan.
His original compositions include Kyz Kuu, Salem and Aitys, distinguished by their harmonious use of colour. His carpet designs Blooming South and Spring are notable for their originality. In particular, Spring beautifully combines traditional Kazakh motifs such as qoshqar muiiz (ram’s horns), tolqyn (wave), bugi muiiz (deer antlers), qus qanat (bird’s wing) and qus tandai (bird’s beak).
Ilyayev also designed ornaments for tuskiz wall hangings, syrmak felt rugs and a wide variety of household objects.
Kurasbek Tynybekov (1947–1980)
A textile artist and one of the founders of the Kazakh national tapestry tradition. He graduated from the Almaty Art College in 1966 and the Lviv Institute of Decorative and Applied Arts in 1971.
From 1971 to 1978, he taught at the Almaty Art College, and from 1978 to 1980, at the Almaty Theatre and Art Institute. He also pursued his own artistic work.
His notable tapestries include Shepherd (1970), Steppe Ballad (1974), Legend of the Mountains and Steppe (1975), The World (Tree of Life, 1976), Virgin Lands Parade, Rhythms of Baikonur (1977), Medeu (1978) and Sea Symphony (1980).
From 1976 to 1980, he was a member of the Kazakhstan Society for Friendship and Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries. In 1980, he joined the Presidium of the Union of Artists of Kazakhstan. He received the State Prize of Kazakhstan for his tapestry Kazakhstan.
