In traditional Kazakh culture, the sound emitted by jewelry preceded the appearance of a woman. The light ringing of earrings, the swaying of hair pendants foreshadowed her appearance. Who is she? What will her voice, her sound be?

In our photo project, we invite you to think about the fact that jewelry can be not just a form, but also a voice. It can have a sound, it can tell a story, it can become a connection between the inner and the outer, the body and space.

The photographer captures the moment of interaction between a woman and a piece of jewelry, when she tries on a certain role. She ponders: could she wear this? The photo exhibition "Syldyr" is an artistic and documentary project based on the international exhibition of conceptual jewelry Treasure Island, which opened in Astana in September 2024.

As part of the photo project, we asked 38 Kazakhstani women of different ages and professions to try on bold, conceptual jewelry that participated in the Treasure Island exhibition and share their personal impressions of it. In the photographs by Lena Sorokina, we see this intimate moment of contact, the initial touch— and in the subsequent insightful interviews, we can read how the participants deeply reflect on jewelry as a powerful instrument that helps their voice to be heard, to fully resonate. And for each, this resonance will be different—but for each, it will invariably carry her own authenticity.