The National Pavilion Of The Republic Of Armenia On The
Island Of San Lazzaro Degli Armeni, Venice
Contemporary artists from the Armenian Diaspora
Haig Aivazian, Lebanon/France; Nigol Bezjian, Syria/USA;
Anna Boghiguian Egypt/Canada; Hera Büyüktaşçıyan, Turkey; Silvina
Der-Meguerditchian, Argentina/ Germany; Rene Gabri & Ayreen Anastas,
Iran/Palestine/USA; Mekhitar Garabedian, Belgium; Aikaterini Gegisian, Greece;
Yervant Gianikian & Angela Ricci Lucchi, Italy; Aram Jibilian, USA; Nina
Katchadourian, USA/Finland; Melik Ohanian, France; Mikayel Ohanjanyan,
Armenia/Italy; Rosana Palazyan, Brasil; Sarkis, Turkey/France; Hrair
Sarkissian, Syria/UK.
Curated by Adelina Cüberyan v. Fürstenberg*
Press preview: May 6, 2015 at 5 pm
Opening: May 5, 2015 from 7 to 9 pm
A special Shuttle service by ACTV vaporetto from the
Giardini departs at 4.30 pm from the Giardini to the Island of San Lazzaro (10
min). ACTV vaporetto Number 20 from San Marco Zacaria to San Lazzaro departs at
4.45, 5.50, 6.30 and 7.10 pm (15 min). Return vaporetto every hour.
In this symbolic year 2015, on the occasion of the one
hundredth commemoration of the Armenian Genocide, the Ministry of Culture of
the Republic of Armenia has dedicated its pavilion to the artists of the
Armenian diaspora. It will be located at the Mekhitarist Monastery on the
island of San Lazzaro degli Armeni. Vaporetti will leave for San Lazzaro every
early afternoon from the Giardini.
The curatorial concept of armenity** implies the notion
of displacement and territory, justice and reconciliation, ethos and
resilience. Regardless of their place of birth, the selected artists carry
within their identity the memory of their origins. Through their talent and
willpower, these grandchildren of survivors of the Armenian Genocide—the first
genocide of the 21st Century—rebuilt a “transnational assembly” from the
remnants of a shattered identify. Their ingrained concern for memory, justice
and reconciliation skillfully transcends notions of territory, borders and
geography. Whether they were born in Beirut, Lyon, Los Angeles, or Cairo and
wherever they may reside, these global citizens constantly question and
reinvent their armenity.
Armenity** is being held in a setting of special
significance for the Armenian diaspora. It was on the Island of San Lazzaro,
located between San Marco and the Lido and facing the Giardini of the Biennale,
that in 1717 the Armenian monk Mekhitar established the Mekhitarist Order. It
was here that in the early 19th century Lord Byron studied the Armenian
language. Many important works of European literature and religious texts were
first translated into Armenian on this scenic island. Over its three-hundred
years history the Monastery of San Lazzaro with its gardens, former print shop,
cloisters, museum and library, has helped to preserve Armenia’s unique cultural
heritage, much of which might otherwise have been lost.
An accompanying catalogue published by Skira, Milan will
contain colour reproductions and texts in English and Armenian. An
introduction, forewords and curatorial texts will be followed by 4 pages
dedicated to each of the 16 artists: 1 page of text by each artist and essays
by international art critics and writers such as Ruben Arevshatyan, Cecile
Bourne, Ginevra Bria, Adam Budak, David Kazanjian, Berthold Reiss, Gabi Scardi,
Hrag Vartanian and 3 pages with images and drawings of the works. The third
part of the catalogue will contain essays by New York-based art historian and
independent curator Neery Melkonian and London-based art writer and Ibraaz
editor Stephanie Bailey. The catalogue will end with the Armenian translations
of the texts.
A book of poetry comprising the work of 12 Armenian poets
born after the Armenian Genocide and the Russian Revolution will accompany the
catalogue. The poems have been translated into French by the prominent
Swiss-Armenian poet Vahé Godel. The book will include an essay by the author,
along with a selection of Armenian translations.
In the context of Armenity, the Piccolo Amphitheater of
the Arsenale will host from September 5 to 11 a series of performances,
discussions and video projections by performing artists, poets and independent
filmmakers orginally from Asia Minor.
The Lyon-based Bullukian Foundation*** is proud to be a
partner of Armenity. Special thanks to the Hrechdakian family (also the main
supporters of the Houshamadyan Project)
We thank the Harry Babikian family, Brussels for donating
the IP video surveillance system,
the Boghossian Foundation, Brussels, the Foundation
Alliance, Paris, the Foundation Armenia, Geneva, the UGAB, NY and Vahé Gabrache
and Jean Altounian for their collaboration and support.
Press Contact:
Lucia Crespi Milan, tel +39 02 89415532 - +39 02
89401645, +39 338 8090545 - lucia@luciacrespi.it / press@artfortheworld.net
* Adelina Cüberyan v. Fürstenberg, a Swiss citizen of
Armenian origin, is a renowned international curator. A pioneer in the field,
she is known for broadening contemporary art to include a multicultural
approach. She is the founder and first Director of the Centre d’Art
Contemporain de Genève and the former Director of MAGASIN--Centre National
d’Art Contemporain in Grenoble. In 1996 she founded ART for The World, an NGO
working with contemporary art, independent cinema and human rights.
** Armenity derives from the French word Arménité, a
notion which expresses the particular characteristics of the grandchildren of
Armenian Genocide survivors. These include a state of constant flux, a
diversity of self-definition, and a modern and often subjective sense of being-in-the-world.
***Located at 26 Place Bellecour in Lyon, the Bullukian
Foundation is known for its work ensuring the public good and for providing
shelter and aid to those in need. Faithful to its founder Napoléon Bullukian’s
vision, the foundation works mainly in the following three fields: medicine
(health and cancer research); culture (more specifically by helping young
artists); and Armenian social work.
Hiç yorum yok:
Yorum Gönder
Not: Yalnızca bu blogun üyesi yorum gönderebilir.