Armenian National Gallery to host exhibit in commemoration of Genocide 95th anniversary

April 15, 2010 - 15:10 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - On April 16, Armenian National Gallery will host an exhibit in commemoration of 95th anniversary of Genocide.

The exhibition will feature works of Armenian artists who drew on Genocide theme: Vardges Surenyants, Martiros Saryan, Sargis Khachatryan, Hakob Hakobyan, Harutyun Harutyunyan, Ara Shiraz, Harutyun Hakobyan, Ghazar Mirzoyan, Arart Sargsyan.

The exhibition was organized by Ararat Diocese of Armenian Apostolic Church (AAC), Armenian Genocide Museum and Worldwide Association of Armenian Artists, with the assistance of RA Ministry of Culture and Armenian National Gallery.

Exhibition opening will be attended by Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan and Minister of Culture Hasmik Poghosyan, AAC Ararat Diocese press service reported.

The Armenian Genocide

The Armenian Genocide (1915-23) was the deliberate and systematic destruction of the Armenian population of the Ottoman Empire during and just after World War I. It was characterized by massacres and deportations, involving forced marches under conditions designed to lead to the death of the deportees, with the total number of deaths reaching 1.5 million.

The majority of Armenian Diaspora communities were formed by the Genocide survivors.

Present-day Turkey denies the fact of the Armenian Genocide, justifying the atrocities as “deportation to secure Armenians”. Only a few Turkish intellectuals, including Nobel Prize winner Orhan Pamuk and scholar Taner Akcam, speak openly about the necessity to recognize this crime against humanity.

The Armenian Genocide was recognized by Uruguay, Russia, France, Lithuania, Italy, 45 U.S. states, Greece, Cyprus, Lebanon, Argentina, Belgium, Austria, Wales, Switzerland, Canada, Poland, Venezuela, Chile, Bolivia, the Vatican, Luxembourg, Brazil, Germany, the Netherlands, Paraguay, Sweden, Venezuela, Slovakia, Syria, Vatican, as well as the European Parliament and the World Council of Churches.