Nyrgustan Uvarov

Nyrgustan Nikolayevich Uvarov — Khatan Uus — is a blacksmith, maker of Yakut khomuses and Folk Master of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia). He was born on 10 August 1980 in the village of Nyurbachaan in the Nyurbinsky District. From the age of eight, he was raised by his grandparents and attended Nyurbachaan Secondary School. After finishing school, he served in the Radiation, Chemical and Biological Defence Troops in the Far East.

In 2002, Nyrgustan Uvarov entered the Department of Technology and Design at the I. E. Vinokurov Nam Pedagogical College. It was during his studies that he discovered blacksmithing. His mentor was a college lecturer and renowned khomus maker, Innokenty Nikitich Gotovtsev — Khosuun Uus. While still a student, Uvarov began studying modern techniques for making the Yakut khomus, presenting papers at conferences and taking part in the work of the Association of Blacksmiths and Metallurgists of Yakutia.

After defending his graduation project in 2009, Uvarov intended to devote himself to blacksmithing, but initially left to work in Moscow. For two years, he worked for a construction company in various regions of Central Russia. Throughout this time, he never abandoned the idea of returning to his chosen craft. After returning to Yakutia, he established his own metalworking business and gradually made blacksmithing his primary profession.

The khomus occupies a central place in Nyrgustan Uvarov’s work, but the range of his creations is considerably broader. He makes Yakut knives, traditional objects known as batas and ann’y, artistic metalwork and other metal objects. The maker works with both traditional forms and original structural solutions.

In 2012, Uvarov won the “Best Innovation in the Development of the Khomus” category at a republic-wide competition for khomus makers with a khomus composition. His competition entries have included multi-reed khomuses and unusual artistic cases in which the musical instrument became part of a unified decorative composition.

Uvarov considers his victory in the “Tetim Khomus” category of an international interactive competition marking the centenary of Semyon Gogolev — Amynnyky Uus — an important milestone in his career. Later, the maker presented his work at the Altın Güneş exhibition in Antalya and won the Grand Prix in the “Author-Creator of a Khomus” category. These successes brought him recognition and helped him turn his craft into an independent business.

Nyrgustan Uvarov has been awarded the titles “Master of Folk Arts and Crafts of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia)”, “Folk Master of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia)”, “Folk Master of the Namsky District” and “Master of Folk Arts and Crafts of the Nyurbinsky District”. His khomuses are held in museum and private collections and are used by performers, students and enthusiasts of traditional culture.

In 2025, Khatan Uus was recognised as an Honorary Donor of the Museum and Center of the Khomus of the Peoples of the World. In 2026, he took first place in the “Sakha Khomus” category at the “Chap Uustara” makers’ competition in Verkhnevilyuysk.

In his work, Uvarov brings together his Nyurbinsky family roots, the school of his mentor and contemporary experience in artistic metalworking. He considers diligence, perseverance and continual development essential qualities in becoming a master. This approach allows his work to preserve the traditional foundations of Yakut blacksmithing while remaining open to new technical and artistic solutions.

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