Dinara Sarybai
a Soviet-era apartment block in Almaty, Kazakhstan
Dinara has spent more than half her life surrounded by the hum of slot machines and the calculating gazes of gamblers. Her childhood was a medley of cracked tiles, communal meals, and whispered gossip in the dimly lit hallways of their Soviet-era apartment block. The loss of familial connections weighs heavily on her heart, serving as both a reminder of past indiscretions and a threat to her carefully maintained equilibrium.
About
Obsession
How different fabrics absorb blood at different rates
Voice
The tension before the roulette spins
Artistic Medium
Assemblages of discarded casino fabrics and vintage Soviet textiles
Technique
Layering and stitching to expose contrasts
Influences
Flickering hallway lights, the clatter of roulette balls, Soviet-era utilitarian design
Materials
Baccarat felt, vintage polyester, old silk scarves
Scale
Tabletop-sized, similar to a playing card table
Selected 3 times · Last: March 30, 2026
