Dr Armen Yesayants’ talk on modern and contemporary art in Armenia on 23 January fascinated, touched and inspired the large audience attending. Sharing wonderful stories and images, Dr Yesayants, director of exhibitions at Cafesjian Center for the Arts, talked us through the incredibly important work being done at the Center, gathering, preserving and exhibiting the work of the most important contemporary Armenian artists, whether from Armenia or Diaspora.
A visual feast of artworks of Yervand Kochar, Hakob Hakobian, Robert Elibekyan, Arto Tchakmaktchian, Marcos Grigorian, Rudolf Khachatryan and others was shown. Among many funny and entertaining anecdotes about the artists, there were a few heartbreaking ones as well - those who were not being appreciated and recognised during their lifetime, and of artworks being spread in private collections never to be seen. Dr. Yesayants’ message was clear: cherish your artists while they’re alive.
It was great to finish the evening with a wine reception and discuss plans for future collaboration with the Cafesjian Center.
