Sanzhar Kerimbay. Hollow Chest

This book offers an existential analysis of the causes behind the emergence and spread of existential frustration in Kazakh society— one of the defining challenges of the twenty-first century. Among the world’s nations, the Kazakh people are among those who, due to historical circumstances, have partially lost their historical memory, native language, and cultural heritage, making them especially vulnerable to spiritual decline. The fragmentation of the human inner self has become one of the most alarming phenomena of the modern age. So far, only societies that remain deeply connected to their own history and cultural roots have been able to confront this condition successfully. This book presents a Kazakh perspective on the issue. It is intended for readers interested in Kazakh culture and worldview.

In 2012, a sculpture entitled Melancholy was unveiled in Geneva. Created by Romanian sculptor Albert György, the artwork shocked the audience at its unveiling. As the curtain fell, people saw a haunting human figure with a hollow cavity in its chest. The crowd stood frozen in silence. Looking at the sculpture, many felt as though they were seeing not someone else, but a reflection of themselves. According to statistics from 2000, one in every ten people worldwide suffered from what the author describes as the “Hollow Chest” condition. By 2010, one in every seven people was experiencing existential frustration and the pain of inner disintegration. Today, this condition affects nearly one in every two people and has become one of the most widespread forms of spiritual suffering. Previously, scholars referred to this phenomenon as the “existential vacuum.” As the condition became increasingly widespread, however, it became necessary to draw public attention to it. That is why such a striking and unsettling sculpture was erected in the heart of Europe. Most troubling of all, neither medicine nor psychology has found an effective solution to this condition. For this reason, we deliberately titled this book Hollow Chest. This phenomenon is becoming increasingly evident in Kazakh society as well. There was a time when enthusiasm for life was considered a natural trait of youth. Today, however, many young people experience apathy and emotional emptiness even before facing life’s major hardships. We wrote and published this book so that Kazakh society would become familiar with the name of this condition, its history, its causes, and the way it can be understood and diagnosed.