OCA Magazine is proud to present the fifth anniversary issue of the special series ‘OCA People’, bringing together 40 prominent figures in culture, art and public life from thirteen countries around the world, and honouring outstanding figures in the fields of film, architecture, literature and the visual arts.
Launched over fifteen years ago, OCA Magazine has become an important platform for dialogue between the countries of Central Asia, the post-Soviet space and the English-speaking world. Its mission is to highlight unique stories, showcase the diversity of cultures and create a space for collaboration. OCA People, a special series dedicated to artists and cultural figures, was launched five years ago as a logical continuation of this mission. It was conceived as a tribute to the people who, through their work, inspire, unite and change the world, and who enrich its treasure trove with their creations.
“Over the years, the OCA People project has become a symbol of recognition of outstanding achievements, a unique project that not only tells the stories of modern creative personalities of Eurasian countries, but also helps to build cultural bridges between people,” says the magazine’s editor Marat Akhmedjanov, whose interview can also be found in the new issue. Through the five issues 200 individuals whose creative and social projects have had and continue to have an impact on the modern world have become known far beyond their home countries and have received recognition and awards.
The anniversary issue features exclusive interviews, inspiring biographies and vivid portraits of figures from the world of art, literature, music, theatre, cinema and more. Writers, artists, theatre-makers, musicians and publishers from the UK, Kazakhstan, Russia, Uzbekistan, Israel, Kyrgyzstan, Ukraine, USA, Latvia, Tajikistan, Australia, Germany and Belarus tell their stories in its pages. Each of the contributors to the issue is an individual who reveals to the world the cultural richness and diversity of his or her country. A special feature of the anniversary issue are ten commemorative biographical articles dedicated to masters whose works have left a deep mark on the hearts of people and whose legacy still arouses admiration and genuine interest among our contemporaries. The magazine presents biographies of Bolotbek Shamshiev, Cyrus Yavneh, Jonathan Fryer, Maria Shevel, Vladimir Schastny, Raim Farhadi and others.
“The idea behind this series is to show that culture and art have the power to unite people regardless of borders and differences,” the editors add. This special issue of OCA Magazine is curated by the Eurasian Creative Guild (London), an organisation that has been bringing together creative people from over seventy countries for nine years. The first issue was published at the height of the pandemic, and every year since has contributed to the preservation of cultural diversity.
The magazine is available in print and digital versions, the electronic version can be accessed HERE.
