Artist talk, Q&A, and screening of two short films explore collective memory, the Kazakh famine of the 1930s, Soviet nuclear testing legacy, environmental degradation, civic engagement, and art ecosystems from contemporary Kazakhstan.
Berlin Art Institute is pleased to present Scars of the Steppe: Artist Talk & Film Screening with Ruslan Jubanysh, a public event with interdisciplinary artist, journalist, performing arts producer, and current ifa CrossCulture Programme Fellow at Berlin Art Institute, Ruslan Jubanysh.
The event brings together an in-dept presentation by the artist, followed by an interactive Q&A session, and German premier of two short films: The Hungry Steppe (2025) and Atomic Steppe (2026).
Ruslan Jubanysh is a Kazakhstan-based artist whose practice works across performance, moving image, music, and poetry. He is the founder of the independent media initiative beimälım and the interdisciplinary art project täuelxsız. His work addresses collective memory, Soviet colonial violence, environmental justice in Central Asia, and the power of civic activism through art.
During his presentation, Ruslan will introduce his artistic practice and share insights into Kazakhstan’s contemporary art ecosystem, highlighting cultural initiatives, collaborative practices, and the relationship between artistic expression and civic engagement. His talk will be accompanied by visual case studies and followed by an open discussion with the audience
Film Screening
The Hungry Steppe (2025)
Genre: Video artwork / Short film
Duration: 13 min 27 sec
Original Language: Kazakh
Subtitles: English
Trailer: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1p2PwSVf-bzjbe-yllzxmxKHyanmoAWpm/view?usp=drivesdk
Synopsis: The Hungry Steppe explores the memory of the Kazakh famine (Asharshylyq) of the 1930s resulting from Soviet collectivization. Through poetry, performance, and documentary imagery, the work examines historical trauma, collective memory, and the ways colonial violence continues to shape the relationship between people, land, and identity.
Atomic Steppe (2026)
Genre: Video artwork / Short film
Duration: 16 min 10 sec
Original Language: Kazakh
Subtitles: English
Trailer: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1nKSFFUUm3OwtitpVOErJi2zVq26PsNyX/view?usp=drivesdk
Synopsis: Inspired by the history of Soviet nuclear testing in Semipalatinsk, Atomic Steppe connects nuclear violence with the bodies, landscapes, and memories that continue to carry its consequences. Through poetic spoken word, performance, and documentary imagery, the film reflects on ecological trauma and human resilience.
About Ruslan Jubanysh
Ruslan Jubanysh is an interdisciplinary artist based in Kazakhstan, working with performance, moving image, sound, and poetry. His practice reexamines history through a decolonial lens, investigating Central Asian collective memory, Soviet colonial violence, political realities, and environmental justice.
Central to his methodology is poetry, which he translates into performative scenarios co-created with diverse collaborators and participants. He is an ARTIF Award recipient, founder of täuelxsız, and a participant in the British Council’s Creative Producers programme (2024).
His work has been presented at Almaty Museum of Arts, OUT OF THE BLUE (Paris), and Strefa Wolnosłowa (Warsaw). Ruslan is a CrossCulture Programme (CCP) fellow of ifa (Institut für Auslandsbeziehungen), hosted by the Berlin Art Institute.
Event Information
Event: Scars of the Steppe: Artist Talk & Film Screening with Ruslan Jubanysh
Speaker: Ruslan Jubanysh
Date: November 19, 2026
Time: 7:00 – 9:00 pm
Venue: Berlin Art Institute, An der Industriebahn 12–16, Building 404 (Top Floor), 13088, Berlin
