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  • 12 hours ago
From felt to flesh: Why young Kazakhs are turning traditional ornaments into tattoos

What was once woven into carpets and carved into wood is now being etched onto skins of a new generation. For many young people, it is a way to reclaim identity, to reconnect with cultural roots and to transform inherited symbols into something deeply personal.

READ MORE : http://www.euronews.com/2026/02/25/from-felt-to-flesh-why-young-kazakhs-are-turning-traditional-ornaments-into-tattoos

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Transcript
00:00Across Kazakhstan tattoo studios are seeing a growing demand for traditional Kazakh ornaments,
00:05symbol that for centuries adorned carpets, clothing and the interiors of yurt.
00:10What was one woven into felt is now itched into skin.
00:14For many young people this is more than a trend.
00:16It's a way to turn heritage into something deeply personal.
00:20I have been able to choose a sketch of this tattoo.
00:24I remember when in school we had a theme of ornaments.
00:28I was very interested in this ornament.
00:31The main importance of this ornament is the freedom of movement.
00:37I believe that my friends and acquaintances are like this.
00:41For nomads, ornaments were more than decoration.
00:44They were believed to protect the world of evil and attract prosperity.
00:48Their flowing lines and curved patterns, reminiscent of horns or waves,
00:52create rhythmic and symmetrical composition known as muiz motifs.
00:56Each design carries layered meaning.
00:58Horns and wings symbolize trend and freedom,
01:00floral elements fertility,
01:02geometric shapes, harmony and protection,
01:04while spirals and circles reflected the eternal cycle of life.
01:07Now we must be able to do things with ornaments.
01:13I think it is a part of a broader process.
01:17One day I came to come a client,
01:19first a first time in Kazakhstan,
01:21and before his travel,
01:23he decided to come to me to make a ornament,
01:29I chose to make a ornament of ornament.
01:32He chose to make a ornament of ornament for a ornament,
01:33and wanted to make a ornament on the neck.
01:40Today, these ornaments continue to evolve, appearing in fashion, branding, architecture and urban design.
01:46National motifs have become part of contemporary visual culture and corporate identities.
01:51And now, alongside fabric, wood and metal, there is another canvas – human body.
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