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THE ARTIST ABOUT PARTICIPATION IN VENICE BIENNALE. "ARMENIA CAN BE ACCUSED OF FASCISM."
February 5 2015
In the interview with Aravot.am, the artist Sahak Poghosyan said the
following about Armenia's participation in Venice Biennale, "I have
raised questions during the previous biennale. The former one at least
established a formal committee by appointing a curator and a project
was taken to Venice. Then, too, there were a lot of casus, but it is
in the past. How is this year's Venice Biennale organized now..?"
According to Sahak Poghosyan, the Venice Biennale is an important
international platform, in which Armenia can present with a
contemporary art, and the whole world presents there.
The following questions are left "dark" for the artist. How is the
curator selected for the 2015 Venice International Art Biennale? How
are the selected artists related to the Republic of Armenia (the
professional qualities of the artists are not considered, there
are wonderful artists among them)? What is meant by the concept of
Biennale Armenity? How much public funds are provided? The showroom
of the island of San Lazzaro is chosen to be the Armenian pavilion,
where during the last Biennale, it was impossible to display the works
of one single artist, so how they are going to display the works of
18 artists. Sahak Poghosyan said that according to preliminary data,
Sargis Zabunyan will represent Turkey this year, but he is also in
the artists representing Armenia, so according to the Charter, can
the same artist represent two countries? It seems strange to Sahak
Poghosyan that all 18 artists selected to act under the Armenian "flag"
represent the Diaspora, and there is no local artist on the list.
Our interlocutor has also concerns about the concept of Biennale
Armenity. "If it is Armenity, then something national underlies,
tomorrow or the next day, we may be accused of fascism. They (the
Ministry of Culture and the coordinator - G.H.) do not realize of what
may happen in the future. This is in the case when the same Turkish
world will present an Armenian-origin artist, Sarkis Zabunyan. These
deep-reaching things, and something else can emerge underneath it. Let
them leave a room for maneuver at least on half way. I would like to
help but I do not get a response." Sahak Poghosyan says that many
people may think that he does not have any private interest as an
artist, which is actually not the case. "This is the third or fourth
Biennale that I declare that, if you select, I will not participate
and will refuse. Why? Because Armenia does not rent a stall in a place
where the whole world is present. Armenia is going to San Lazzaro
Island, where no professional viewer comes. A small room is provided
there as an exhibition hall, where barely one or two artists will be
able to be present.
Gohar HAKOBYAN
Read more at: http://en.aravot.am/2015/02/05/168690/
From: Baghdasarian
February 5 2015
In the interview with Aravot.am, the artist Sahak Poghosyan said the
following about Armenia's participation in Venice Biennale, "I have
raised questions during the previous biennale. The former one at least
established a formal committee by appointing a curator and a project
was taken to Venice. Then, too, there were a lot of casus, but it is
in the past. How is this year's Venice Biennale organized now..?"
According to Sahak Poghosyan, the Venice Biennale is an important
international platform, in which Armenia can present with a
contemporary art, and the whole world presents there.
The following questions are left "dark" for the artist. How is the
curator selected for the 2015 Venice International Art Biennale? How
are the selected artists related to the Republic of Armenia (the
professional qualities of the artists are not considered, there
are wonderful artists among them)? What is meant by the concept of
Biennale Armenity? How much public funds are provided? The showroom
of the island of San Lazzaro is chosen to be the Armenian pavilion,
where during the last Biennale, it was impossible to display the works
of one single artist, so how they are going to display the works of
18 artists. Sahak Poghosyan said that according to preliminary data,
Sargis Zabunyan will represent Turkey this year, but he is also in
the artists representing Armenia, so according to the Charter, can
the same artist represent two countries? It seems strange to Sahak
Poghosyan that all 18 artists selected to act under the Armenian "flag"
represent the Diaspora, and there is no local artist on the list.
Our interlocutor has also concerns about the concept of Biennale
Armenity. "If it is Armenity, then something national underlies,
tomorrow or the next day, we may be accused of fascism. They (the
Ministry of Culture and the coordinator - G.H.) do not realize of what
may happen in the future. This is in the case when the same Turkish
world will present an Armenian-origin artist, Sarkis Zabunyan. These
deep-reaching things, and something else can emerge underneath it. Let
them leave a room for maneuver at least on half way. I would like to
help but I do not get a response." Sahak Poghosyan says that many
people may think that he does not have any private interest as an
artist, which is actually not the case. "This is the third or fourth
Biennale that I declare that, if you select, I will not participate
and will refuse. Why? Because Armenia does not rent a stall in a place
where the whole world is present. Armenia is going to San Lazzaro
Island, where no professional viewer comes. A small room is provided
there as an exhibition hall, where barely one or two artists will be
able to be present.
Gohar HAKOBYAN
Read more at: http://en.aravot.am/2015/02/05/168690/
From: Baghdasarian