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ARTISTS UNITE TO RESTORE SHUSHI'S CULTURAL LEGACY
Anush Kocharyan
http://hetq.am/eng/interviews/19413/artists-unite-to-restore-shushi%E2%80%99s-cultural-legacy.html
12:56, October 11, 2012
Twenty Armenian artists from around the world have converged on the
historic Artsakh town of Shushi to participate in Land and Technologies
project that is a part of the Shushi Art Project.
The art on display is a mixed bag of exhibitions and installations
that allow the artists to mingle with local residents.
Harry Vorperian, an artist from America who heads the project,
was excited to talk to Hetq about how the idea to bring artists to
Artsakh was conceived and what their experiences had been.
Vorperian said he had a personal exhibition in Los Angeles two years
ago and the responses were so positive that he decided to stage a
group exhibition there.
[shushi-7.jpg] Some of the artists in Shushi
The artist said that he thought about taking the exhibition outside
the confines of L.A. and figured Shushi would be the most appropriate
venue since the town has always served as a cultural center for
Armenians. He added that work needs to be done to see that Shushi's
cultural legacy restored for our times.
"Shushi is like a blank canvas for artists," he noted.
This reporter asked Vorperian how it happened that his visit to Shushi
coincided with the opening of the Shushi Art Gallery.
"When I visited Shushi in July, work on the gallery was under way. I
asked if we could use the space and were told we could. It's a
gallery of international standards. That's how our work jived. It
was a pleasant solution. I don't know the details of the gallery's
future plans but I know they are looking for a curator to make the
place come alive."
Vorperian told me that 8 of the artists were from the States and 2
from Europe. There are also 10 from Yerevan.
[shushi-2.jpg] Ara Oshagan and his photo installation
I asked about the installation of photographer Ara Oshagan where huge
blown-up photos have been hung in the empty window and door archways
of a ruined building.
[shushi-3.jpg] Samvel Saghatelyan's "Quilt"
"The reaction has been fantastic. It's a very current theme and
something that local residents can relate to because in the windows
they would see their parents and friends. Let me tell you about
an incident that touched me. Two days ago I was walking past the
building towards the hotel and saw a guy kneeling down in front of
one of the photos. He was trying to retie one of the ropes holding
down the photo. It was a great gesture and shows how we have been
received by the people of Shushi."
Vorperian told me that art works had been installed at other sites
as well.
His installation and one by Ashot Avagyan are located at Jdrdouz
(Dziatap); Sahak Poghosyan's installation is on the ramparts of the
fort, and Charles Khachatourian's half ton piece has been moved to
the gallery.
[shushi-4.jpg] Charles HKhachatourian's gigantic work being moved
The Shushi Art Project will wrap up on October 14. Nevertheless,
Vorperian said he was sure that others would continue the work to
make Shushi a center of arts and culture once again.
[shushi-5.jpg] Art installation at the old fort
P.S. - Hetq will be talking with some of the other artists in the
project soon.
Anush Kocharyan
http://hetq.am/eng/interviews/19413/artists-unite-to-restore-shushi%E2%80%99s-cultural-legacy.html
12:56, October 11, 2012
Twenty Armenian artists from around the world have converged on the
historic Artsakh town of Shushi to participate in Land and Technologies
project that is a part of the Shushi Art Project.
The art on display is a mixed bag of exhibitions and installations
that allow the artists to mingle with local residents.
Harry Vorperian, an artist from America who heads the project,
was excited to talk to Hetq about how the idea to bring artists to
Artsakh was conceived and what their experiences had been.
Vorperian said he had a personal exhibition in Los Angeles two years
ago and the responses were so positive that he decided to stage a
group exhibition there.
[shushi-7.jpg] Some of the artists in Shushi
The artist said that he thought about taking the exhibition outside
the confines of L.A. and figured Shushi would be the most appropriate
venue since the town has always served as a cultural center for
Armenians. He added that work needs to be done to see that Shushi's
cultural legacy restored for our times.
"Shushi is like a blank canvas for artists," he noted.
This reporter asked Vorperian how it happened that his visit to Shushi
coincided with the opening of the Shushi Art Gallery.
"When I visited Shushi in July, work on the gallery was under way. I
asked if we could use the space and were told we could. It's a
gallery of international standards. That's how our work jived. It
was a pleasant solution. I don't know the details of the gallery's
future plans but I know they are looking for a curator to make the
place come alive."
Vorperian told me that 8 of the artists were from the States and 2
from Europe. There are also 10 from Yerevan.
[shushi-2.jpg] Ara Oshagan and his photo installation
I asked about the installation of photographer Ara Oshagan where huge
blown-up photos have been hung in the empty window and door archways
of a ruined building.
[shushi-3.jpg] Samvel Saghatelyan's "Quilt"
"The reaction has been fantastic. It's a very current theme and
something that local residents can relate to because in the windows
they would see their parents and friends. Let me tell you about
an incident that touched me. Two days ago I was walking past the
building towards the hotel and saw a guy kneeling down in front of
one of the photos. He was trying to retie one of the ropes holding
down the photo. It was a great gesture and shows how we have been
received by the people of Shushi."
Vorperian told me that art works had been installed at other sites
as well.
His installation and one by Ashot Avagyan are located at Jdrdouz
(Dziatap); Sahak Poghosyan's installation is on the ramparts of the
fort, and Charles Khachatourian's half ton piece has been moved to
the gallery.
[shushi-4.jpg] Charles HKhachatourian's gigantic work being moved
The Shushi Art Project will wrap up on October 14. Nevertheless,
Vorperian said he was sure that others would continue the work to
make Shushi a center of arts and culture once again.
[shushi-5.jpg] Art installation at the old fort
P.S. - Hetq will be talking with some of the other artists in the
project soon.