National Guard Soldier Creates Portrait of Abai in Unique Thread Art Technique

In honor of the 180th anniversary of the great Kazakh poet, educator, and philosopher Abai Kunanbayev, Private Madi Saken, a serviceman of military unit 6636 of the National Guard of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan, presented an original artwork. He created a portrait of the great thinker using thread painting (also known as string art) — a rare artistic technique involving the use of thread and glue.

Originally from Pavlodar Region, Madi was conscripted into military service after graduating from the Pavlodar College of Art with a degree in graphic design. His passion for art blends seamlessly with his military duty, and service has become both a source of inspiration and a new stage in his creative development.

The artwork, created together with his fellow servicemen, is a tribute to Abai’s legacy during the poet’s anniversary year. With thread and glue, Madi skillfully and expressively captured the image of the great enlightener.

The unit’s command highly praised the soldier’s initiative, emphasizing the importance not only of physical and combat training but also of nurturing the creative potential of service members.

The portrait of Abai will be displayed in a unique exhibition space — inside a specially converted train carriage that has been transformed into a mobile museum filled with memories and history of the service of law enforcement troops.

Such initiatives by National Guard servicemen prove that even in the military environment, it is possible to harmoniously combine devotion to the homeland with a love for art — thereby contributing to the spiritual and cultural development of society.

#АБАЙКҮНІ
#DAYOFABAI

 

Press Service of the National Guard
Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan