24 Armenian artists to exhibit in Cyprus

PanARMENIAN.Net - The Armenian Cultural Association Hamazkayin "Oshagan" organised an exhibition of Armenian Cypriot artists at the Utudjian Hall of the Armenian Prelature of Cyprus, Nicosia, under the auspices of the Armenian Representative, Mr Vartkes Mahdessian.



Twenty four Armenian Cypriot artists of all ages proudly exhibited 88 works in total. The themes varied, ranging from paintings, mosaics, mirrors and photographs to articles of clothing, jewellery, carpets, chairs, pillows, silk works, wood works, patchworks and charms. This plethora of exhibits reminded us that art is so much more than just painting. The most sentimental piece was made by Tatiana Ferahian from Limassol, a time capsule with bone remains from Armenian Genocide martyrs, brought to Cyprus by her mother in 2005 from the Der Zor Desert, a powerful reminder of the atrocities the Armenian nation endured in the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th centuries, yet it managed to survive, thrive and prosper.



The famous artist Vartan Tashdjian, who was also a speaker at the exhibition, chose to display only one theme: the Melkonian. In his seven paintings we were able to see the various buildings and yards of the Melkonian, whose memory must never fade away and the fight for its re-opening must never cease.



As previously mentioned, there were many forms of art and many types of painting approaches. Perhaps the most traditionally Cypriot paintings were those of Therese Kasparian-Petrides, one of which was painted on a traditional old wooden door.