Conferences

On September 6, the RA Ministry of Diaspora launched the Pan-Armenian Forum of Artists with the participation of 60 artists from 15 countries.

The forum participants were headed by RA Minister of Diaspora Hranush Hakobyan as they visited the Armenian Genocide memorial complex and laid flowers in memory of the victims of the 1915 Armenian Genocide.

The participants also visited the Modern Art Museum and were introduced to the existing issues. The “Armenia-Diaspora” exhibition of fine arts showcasing 70 works by artists from Armenia and the Diaspora was opened at “Hay Art” Cultural Center with the participation of RA Minister of Diaspora Hranush Hakobyan.

Expressing gratitude to the RA Ministry of Diaspora for the successful initiative of bringing together Diaspora Armenian artists and presenting their works under one roof, Director of “Hay Art” Cultural Center Rita Sharoyan invited the Minister to start the solemn opening of the event.

“I am pleased to welcome you to the Homeland,” said Mrs. Hakobyan and underlined that the hall of the cultural center would not be enough to store the works by all participating artists. “The pivot of our Ministry’s activities is the consolidation of the potential of all Armenians. By gathering and getting acquainted with each other, you will establish an association of artists which will be one of the best opportunities of strengthening relations between Armenia and the Diaspora and using the capabilities for the benefit of the Homeland,” said the Minister in closing.

Following the Minister’s speech were speeches by artists from Armenia and the Diaspora who thanked the RA Ministry of Diaspora for providing them with the opportunity to present their works in the Homeland.

The official part of the event was followed by a concert with performances by “Mihr” Dance Theater and “Shell” Trio.

The forum participants also visited the Artists’ Union of Armenia. President of the Union Karen Aghamyan accompanied the forum participants as they viewed the samples of a personal exhibition entitled “Artists of theater, cinema and television of Armenia” and Knarik Hovhannisyan’s personal exhibition.

The solemn opening of the Pan-Armenian Forum of Artists was held on September 7. Attending the event were RA Minister of Diaspora Hranush Hakobyan, President of the RA National Academy of Sciences Radik Martirosyan and over 160 artists.

In her opening remarks, RA Minister of Diaspora Hranush Hakobyan read RA President Serzh Sargsyan’s address to the forum participants. As stated in the address, the President of the Republic places high importance on such professional forums since they provide the best opportunity to identify and use the potential of all Armenians for the benefit of the Homeland.

Mrs. Hakobyan stated that she looks forward to interesting speeches and active professional debates. “I would like to welcome our fellow Diaspora Armenian artists who responded and turned this unprecedented forum into a reality in a short amount of time,” the Minister emphasized, adding: “You are our special ambassadors in four corners of the globe. Being the commendable followers of Sargis Pitsak, Arshil Gorky and Hovhannes Ayvazovsky and living in different countries, you should be able to present Armenian fine arts as it should be presented and you have that potential.”  Appreciating the presence of advanced technologies, the Minister stated that they help organize pan-national exhibitions and make them reach out to all corners of the globe. “We must simply be able to think at the national level and be able to show our fine arts amid globalization,” said the Minister. It was also stated that the consolidation of the potential of all Armenians serves as the best opportunity to consolidate Armenians, while the organizing of professional forums and the creation of groups, networks and associations are the best guarantee for that.

Mrs. Hakobyan presented a Medal after Arshil Gorky of the RA Ministry of Diaspora to RA People’s Artist Hakob Hakobyan as a token of appreciation of his contribution and dedication to Armenian fine arts.

In his welcoming remarks, President of the RA National Academy of Sciences Radik Martirosyan placed importance on the Ministry’s initiative to hold professional forums and expressed certainty that the forum held in the building of the Academy’s presidency will be effective.

The welcoming remarks were followed by the first session moderated by Director of the Institute of Art at the RA National Academy of Sciences Ararat Aghasyan and member of the Sculptors’ Society of Canada Georg Gassabian.

Director of Armenia’s eContent Association Garegin Chugaszyan also gave a speech entitled “Art, the Internet and Chains of Values”.

Among other speakers was Lebanese-Armenian Movses Hergelian who stated that though the quality of Armenian fine arts is known around the world, Armenians still aren’t able to expose their works in the international market. It is necessary to develop a cultural policy. Mr. Hergelian stressed that fine artists must develop that policy and present it to the RA Ministry of Diaspora.

The speakers also discussed the lack of exhibition halls in Armenia and the Diaspora, the insufficient number of art critics and the lack of a periodical that can present this sphere of art.

Expressing gratitude to the RA Minister of Diaspora for implementing large-scale activities in the course of two years, sculptor Ferdinand Arakelyan stated that the gap that existed between Armenia and the Diaspora for decades is slowly being filled. Russia-based distinguished painter Avet Tavrizov presented transformation as the highest level of world cognition and how museums are undergoing changes in the 21^st century with the major purpose of transforming exposition to an independent work of art.

The session ended with discussions.

The second session of the Pan-Armenian Forum of Artists entitled “Art and Business, Art and the Internet” began with a speech on “Armenian artists in Armenia and the Diaspora” by member of the Sculptors’ Society of Canada Georg Gassabian. In his speech, Gassabian stressed the lack of Armenian artists in world fine arts and placed importance on the role of the state and especially the Ministry of Diaspora. “The Diaspora has something to say,” said G. Gassabian, adding that if the Pan-Armenian Forum of Artists doesn’t presuppose practical steps, the gatherings of “tourists” will be nonsensical.

Following Gassabian was President of the Board of Administration of the Modern Art Museum Levon Igityan. “If we consider business as our goal, there will be no art,” said Igityan during his speech entitled “Art and the society”. Igityan added that there has to be a professional approach to the issues facing the sphere. “We need to have a rational and well-developed system. We have to challenge ourselves in the sphere where we are strong and we are strong in fine arts,” said Igityan in closing.

President of the Artists’ Union of Armenia Karen Aghamyan gave a speech on “Creative unions and a civilized society”. In his speech, Aghamyan placed importance on government support in not setting limits on the freedom of individual creators. “…Only in that case can Armenian artists be free and not dependent on the whims of “art-loving” officials. We need to protect Armenian culture.”

The third session began with a speech on the “Concept of “Diaspora Armenian Arts” and national identity in art” by Director of the Institute of Art at the RA National Academy of Sciences Ararat Aghasyan, followed by a speech on the “Current state of Armenian art amid globalization” by Janet Lazaryan (art critic, Director of Lazaryan Gallery) and “Design and its role in the rise of Armenian economy and culture” by Martin Kakosyan (President of the Designers’ Society of Armenia).

During the discussions, importance was attached to the need of having a cultural attaché at RA embassies. Minister Hranush Hakobyan also proposed to combine efforts to create a Diaspora Armenian Art Museum to present the works by Diaspora Armenian artists.

Artist Anush Yeghiazaryan opened the fourth session of the forum with her speech on “Armenian tapestry: restoration of traditions”, followed by a speech on “Art and Business” (Middle East) by Lebanon-based art critic Movses Hergelian. The closing speech was on the “Role of design in the success of innovations and business” by Iranian-Armenian strategist of design, branding and innovations Nzhdeh Hovhannisian, which was followed by heated discussions and the adoption of an announcement by all forum participants.

In her closing speech, RA Minister of Diaspora Hranush Hakobyan addressed the issues raised during the forum and the solutions to those issues.

On September 8, participants of the Pan-Armenian Forum of Artists visited the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.

Welcoming the forum participants on behalf of the Catholicos of All Armenians was Bishop Ararat Galtakchyan.

Greeting the participants and welcoming their visit to Etchmiadzin, His Holiness expressed certainty that the forum would become a small bridge and path for strengthening of relations between Armenia and the Diaspora.

His Holiness showed the large paintings by great Armenian painter Grigor Khanjyan presented at the hall of ceremonies at the residence of the Catholicos.

The participants visited the residence of the Catholicos and viewed the Golden Cross and the Golden Letters of the alphabet created by Mesrop Mashtots.

On September 8, RA Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan received participants of the Pan-Armenian Forum of Artists headed by RA Minister of Diaspora Hranush Hakobyan at the RA Government.

Welcoming the participants, the Prime Minister expressed gratitude for participating in the forum and showing constructive approaches.

“We are trying to consolidate our artists through these pan-Armenian forums. It is more correct to discuss the issues of our concern because we have to determine our priorities and focus more on the issues that are appropriate to present to the government with the hope of finding solutions,” said the RA Prime Minister.

Giving the floor to the RA Minister of Diaspora, the Prime Minister was introduced to the events and activities held within the framework of the Pan-Armenian Forum of Artists.

Thanking the RA Prime Minister for receiving the forum participants, Minister Hakobyan mentioned that the Ministry organized 4 exhibitions, adopted a charter and created a council to coordinate future activities within the framework of the forum.

The Minister placed importance on the issue of properly presenting artists of Armenia and the Diaspora in the international market.

“We are facing the issue of preparing artists and we have to the increase the number of Diaspora Armenian students at the Art Academy,” said the Minister, adding that it is also important to organize exhibitions of the works by Diaspora Armenian artists in the Homeland. “The best way of knowing each other better and filling in the gap of information is the creation of a periodical for artists and a website to present Armenian art. I express deep gratitude to the RA Government for supporting the Ministry’s initiative to create a virtual museum,” said the RA Minister of Diaspora.

The participants of the forum presented their issues of concern. President of the Designers’ Society of Armenia Martin Kakosyan expressed gratitude to the RA Ministry of Diaspora for organizing a constructive forum and raising current issues and expressed the wish to see their society as a center for Armenian design.

Painter, educator Hrazdan Tokmajyan spoke about the need of bringing Diaspora Armenian teens to Armenia and implementing a special cultural program for them.

Lebanon-based art critic Movses Hergelian spoke about the imperative of developing and consistently implementing a national cultural policy.

Hearing the issues raised by the artists, the Prime Minister highly assessed the artists’ role in the continuation of Armenian culture. Tigran Sargsyan stressed that the Armenian government is willing to support the implementation of a large part of the proposals and initiatives of the artists.

The Prime Minister also placed importance on the shaping of an atmosphere for cooperation between artists and the establishment of a pan-Armenian network based on that cooperation.