Artfocus

What are the cracks of the State Academy of Fine Arts and what is its development perspective? In May, Vardan Azatyan, a professor of art, was elected as the rector of the academy. He is an art critic, historian, theoretician, has been teaching at the academy for more than 20 years, and has also lectured at foreign universities. In 2014, he founded the Institute of Humanitarian Studies named after Ashot Hovhannisyan. Anahit Margaryan discussed the future of the academy with the new rector in "Artfocus".

Pianist Levon Karapetyan is in his homeland

 

Pianist Levon Karapetyan is a laureate of national and international competitions. Having become blind at the age of 6, he accepted the challenge of fate and graduated from A. Hekimyan and A. Spendaryan Music schools. Then he studied at the Yerevan State Conservatory named after Komitas, received bachelor's and master's degrees, improved in Strasbourg. He regularly performs in solo concerts and accompanied by symphony orchestras. After a long absence, Levon is in his homeland.

The focus of attention of Armenian film writers has almost always been on the genre of war cinematography. Many of the figures of Armenian cinema went to the front, took part in military operations, in order to make more realistic films. The continuation of this tradition is the young director Arman Ayvazyan who lives next to us today. His film "Stone" tells about a group of volunteers who risk their lives to enter Kashatagh days before the deadline for the handover of Artsakh territories to search for and save the Armenian khachkars from destruction. The film won the Silver Apricot at the Golden Apricot Festival in 2023. And the other day, the closed screening of Arman Ayvazyan's new film took place. Anahit Margaryan spoke with the director about films, war, documentary in "Artfocus".

Metal art works, silverware, stone art, ceramics, micro-sculptures, 350 carpets and rugs are displayed in the Hovhannes Sharambeyan Museum of Folk Arts. The collection of Armenian decorative and applied arts housed in the museum includes almost 12,000 exhibits. The 45-year-old museum is active. Anahit Margrayan discussed educational programs and cooperation with folk art masters on the "Artfocus" program with museum director Lusine Toroyan.

The iconography of the epic Davit of Sassoon was published, based on the Tumanyan elaboration of the epic. It is presented for the first time in graphic novel format. The publisher is "Number 405" company, the artist is Tigran Mangasaryan, the producer is Narek Van Ashughattoyan. In "Artfocus", the director of "Number 405" company, presenter Gohar Gasparyan and the author of the illustration text, literary critic Ani Yeghiazaryan presented the content of the comic and the history of its creation. The program was hosted by Anahit Margaryan.

The film about children drivers from Artsakh received 17 awards

 

3 years ago, the press wrote about the feat of fourteen-year-old Vahe and eleven-year-old Ashot from Artsakh, who sat behind the wheel of their father's cars during the 44-day war, traveled 250 km and saved not only their relatives, but also neighbors and compatriots they met on the road. Film director Hasmik Movsisyan made a short feature film based on this story. The film "250 km" was screened at 23 film festivals around the world and received 17 awards. Hasmik Movsisyan, director, screenwriter and producer of the film, is the guest of Anahit Margaryan in "Artfocus".

The literary competition named after Vrezh Israelyan has been summarized

 

On April 2, on the birthday of prose writer, dramatist Vrezh Israelyan, the Writers' Union concluded the competition for the best short story of the year under the title "TONAPET-2023". That contest was organized by Israilyan's family and the Writers' Union.

Who participated, what works did they present and who won an award? Anahit Margaryan discussed the details with the founder of the competition, writer Mher Israelyan and the committee member, writer Hovhannes Yeranyan.

Paris-based Nina Khemchyan will represent Armenia at the Venice Biennale

 

Armenia will be represented at the 60th Venice Biennale, which will be held from April 20 to November 24, by the multi-layered multimedia project entitled "Response" by Paris-based Nina Khemchyan. Through art, Nina Khemchyan will talk about the Armenian medieval heritage, which is endangered today, and will touch on the themes of identity, memory and belonging. The commissar of the pavilion is Svetlana Sahakyan, head of the modern art department of the Ministry of Education. The co-organizer and main sponsor of the pavilion is the "Gafesjian" Art Center. The curator of the national pavilion is Armen Yesayants, director of GAC exhibitions.

Anahit Margaryan talked to Armen Yesayants, the curator of the Armenian pavilion at the Venice Biennale, the exhibition director of the Cafesjian Art Center, and Elizaveta Shirinyan, the director of education, in "Artfocus".

The light radiating from the Mother Church has kept the Armenian nation steadfast

 

In the Ruben Sevak Museum of the Mother See, the presentation of the picture book "Splendid and beautiful Holy Etchmiadzin" took place. It presents more than 60 works of artists depicting the Cathedral. The author used museum archives and private collections. The picture book is an ode to the Mother Cathedral and is dedicated to the 25th anniversary of the enthronement of Karekin II, Patriarch of All Armenians.

 

 Anahit Margrayan's guest at "Artfocus" is Asoghik Abegha Karapetyan, the author of the picture book and the director of the museums and archives of the Mother See.

The spirit of time must enter the Yerevan State Institute of Theater and Cinematography

 

A period of great reforms has begun in YSITC, in order for the university to serve modern requirements. The best cinematographers of Armenia were invited to the institute, who not only teach, but also take students with them to film. An agreement was reached with one of the television companies to jointly use the booths. Students have the opportunity to stage plays. What is the path of development of Yerevan State Institute of Theater and Cinematography?

Anahit Margrayan's guest in "Artfocus" is Sara Nalbandian, the rector of the YSITC.