Coffee, Art and Kyrgyz Identity

Historically coffee has been a powerful force that unites people, transcends culture and kindles the imagination. For centuries, coffee has been used as a tool to invigorate the mind and infuse creativity and therefore art and coffee have always shared close ties. Bishkek artist Nurlan gave coffee a more organic role in Kyrgyz art as he started using it as a medium of art.While working in a coffee shop, Nurlan wondered since coffee and paint have similar consistencies, the latter could perhaps be used in art.Expresso did not yield the same consistency though Nescafe apparently worked wonders as it helped him create the right tones. Henceforth he started mixing coffee and art to create portrayals of life in Kyrgyzstan. His artwork focuses mainly on the beauty around Kyrgyzstan in both nature landscapes and traditional Kyrgyz designs and his paintings resonate with elements of Kyrgyz culture and patriotism. Since 2018, Nurlan has been working on a series that depicts the flow of people emigrating or waiting to emigrate from Kyrgyzstan to Russia, Turkey and Kazakhstan and even to Canada, USA and Germany to study or work.The ‘Coffee series’ follows the life of a boy whose parents left Kyrgyzstan, but he decides to return to his homeland.Nurlan draws him in different stages of his life, based in different parts of Kyrgyzstan thus showcasing the immense natural beauty of the country. This 25 year old Bishkek artist,whose father was an art instructor at the Art Academy of Bishkek, wishes to convince the younger generation that Kyrgyzstan—their motherland has everything and there is no need to leave.Nurlan’s art is born of his intense patriotism and for him to be Kyrgyz means to live in a place where there are people who care.