The Presidential Center of the DPA RK has opened the retrospective photo exhibition "N. Imamov: 100 Years. 100 Moments" as part of the "Cultural Code of Independence" project. The exhibition commemorates the 100th anniversary of the birth of renowned Kazakhstani photojournalist, local historian, and chronicler of the capital, Nurmukhamat Imamov.
The project was organized by the Presidential Center with the support of the Association "Center for Urban Tourism Development," the Astana Guides Club, and the Kazakhstan Railway Museum. The exhibition aims to preserve the capital's visual, historical, and cultural heritage as reflected in Imamov's remarkable creative legacy.
The opening ceremony brought together more than 100 guests, including representatives of government institutions, the academic and creative communities, museums and archives, public figures, local historians, journalists, media representatives, as well as Nurmukhamat Imamov's family and friends.
Among the honorary guests were political and public figure and local historian Dmitry Glukhikh, Director of the Astana Chamber of Entrepreneurs, and the photographer's son, Rinat Imamov.
Botagoz Kaipova, Deputy Director of the Presidential Center of the DPA RK, officially opened the exhibition.
In her welcoming remarks, she said, "The title of the exhibition - '100 Moments' - speaks for itself. These carefully preserved moments form a remarkable panorama of the twentieth century. Every photograph presented here is a document of exceptional artistic and historical value. It is a great honor for the Presidential Center to open this exhibition, thereby contributing to the preservation of Kazakhstan's cultural and historical heritage and promoting the names of those who wrote the chronicle of our independence. Through the photographer's lens, visitors can immerse themselves in the atmosphere of the past, see the people and events that shaped the city's identity, and follow its remarkable transformation into one of the world's fastest-growing and most beautiful capitals. Today, Astana has become an international center for diplomacy, culture, and dialogue among civilizations."
The exhibition features 100 unique archival photographs documenting the history, architecture, and development of Tselinograd, Akmola, and modern-day Astana. Nurmukhamat Imamov's work offers visitors a unique opportunity to trace the city's evolution over several decades, revealing changes in its architecture, public life, and everyday life.
Designed as a visual dialogue between past and present, the exhibition combines historical photographs with contemporary images of the capital, highlighting the continuity of generations and the historical development of independent Kazakhstan.
The exhibition consists of four thematic sections dedicated to the personality of Nurmukhamat Imamov, the history of old Tselinograd-Akmola, prominent residents of the capital and modern Astana. The final section focuses on children and young people as symbols of Kazakhstan's future, creativity, and the continuity of generations.
Addressing the audience, Kanat Alin noted, "First of all, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the organizers for their noble initiative to preserve the memory of the outstanding photojournalist, local historian, and chronicler of the capital, Nurmukhamat Imamov. The photographs presented here are far more than archival images - they are priceless testimonies of their time, reflecting the lives of people, the most significant historical events, and the development of our city. Astana's residents must know and appreciate this history, as it was people of different generations who shaped the appearance of the capital. Today, continuing the tradition of creation, the capital's entrepreneurs are also making their contribution to the city's development. I am confident that the anniversary exhibition '100 Moments' will become an important event in Kazakhstan's cultural life and help preserve our unique historical heritage for future generations."
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Dmitry Glukhikh said, "Nurmukhamat Imamov was not born on this land, yet he loved it wholeheartedly and devoted his life to preserving its history. He never sought fame or public recognition. He simply picked up a camera and documented the streets, the people, and the defining events of his time. Thanks to his photographs, we can now see the past of our capital, recognize the people who shaped its history, and feel the connection between generations. History cannot be divided into separate fragments - it is one continuous story. That is why preserving the legacy of people like Nurmukhamat Imamov is so important for future generations. I sincerely thank the Imamov family and the Presidential Center for organizing this remarkable exhibition, which helps preserve our historical memory and fosters respect for our country's past."
Nurmukhamat Imamov was a veteran of the Great Patriotic War, serving as a gunner-radio operator on a Pe-2 dive-bomber. After the war, he worked as a scene-designer and radio mechanic before dedicating himself to photography, striving to preserve the history of the region he came to call home. For more than forty years, he worked as a photojournalist for the newspaper Akmola Pravda and other publications, creating a unique visual chronicle of the capital's development.
Today, his son, Rinat Imamov, continues the work of preserving and digitizing the photographer's extensive archive, which contains thousands of photographs. A selection of these photographs and archival materials is available on the official website at www.imamov.kz.
The 100 photographs presented in the exhibition are not only a documentary record of an era but also a priceless cultural legacy that reveals the history of Kazakhstan's capital through the eyes of a man who dedicated his life to documenting it. The exhibition is of particular interest to historians, researchers, heritage professionals, and everyone interested in the history of Astana and Kazakhstan.
The exhibition will remain open to visitors until 24 August 2026.
