In Astana, the exhibition “Pablo Picasso. Paragraphs” has opened — marking the first time the Spanish artist’s works are presented in Kazakhstan. The show was brought by the private museum Lumiere-Hall and organized at the LM Kulanshi Art Gallery.
Bringing a global collection to the country is no easy task: museum calendar queues, complex logistics, strict storage conditions, and round-the-clock security. Yet, as Lumiere-Hall co-founder Polina Egarmin notes, this is how a new cultural habit is formed — to visit an exhibition first, and then discuss it over dinner.
“We may be a private museum, but not exactly a small one. Lumiere-Hall has existed since 2014 – we opened the first museum in St. Petersburg, where, by the way, there are more than 150 museums and the competition is huge. Then we opened one in Moscow.”
Today, Lumiere-Hall has venues in Amsterdam and Budapest, and soon — in Astana. Egarmin says that despite having a small team, the museum’s network allows them to build connections with collectors and earn their trust.
“For example, the collector with whom we brought Picasso had previously shown Salvador Dalí in Kazakhstan. He really likes how the exhibitions go here.”
The process requires not only diplomacy but also strong nerves: negotiations, rental agreements, and exhibition calendars — and then, the hardest part, transportation.
“Once we were bringing pop art, and only Warhol made it on time — Keith Haring got stuck at customs. We received him only the night before the event and spent all night mounting.”
The artworks are shipped in special boxes, tracked in real time, and always accompanied by security.
“When we brought Banksy, there were road signs along with the works that couldn’t be placed under glass. So we came up with a solution: we put them under plexiglass. It was expensive, but safe.”
The responsibility for the artworks is enormous.
“Once, the museum was flooded. We were in a taxi rushing to check on Salvador Dalí, terrified the water might be hot — the steam could ruin the lithographs. We even joked that we’d have to flee to the islands if the collection was destroyed.”
Sometimes, there are funny moments too.
“After one Banksy exhibition, we carried one of the signs to an office where we were giving a lecture. It was on a stand, and a cleaner came in. Not realizing it was a piece of art, she reached to wipe it with a cloth.”
Despite the challenges, Egarmin is confident that a healthy exhibition culture is taking root in Kazakhstan.
“We love that people come with their families and kids, in big groups. We want to build a new habit: not just go out to dinner with a friend, but visit an exhibition first, and then discuss it over dinner.”
Lumiere-Hall has already brought exhibitions of Dalí and Banksy to Kazakhstan, and now — Picasso. In the future, the team plans to expand even further and introduce new names.
“Art brings joy. It’s not like manufacturing — where you produce and sell. Even though it’s a business, it’s tied to a huge amount of emotion.”
Read the full story on Mustafin Magazine.
