Armenian museum life resembles the scenario of “Night at the Museum” movie, with one difference only: In this case, we do not have an active movement of museum exhibits, but rather an active flow of visitors.
Armenian museum life resembles the scenario of “Night at the Museum” movie, with one difference only: In this case, we do not have an active movement of museum exhibits, but rather an active flow of visitors. There is an intense flow of visitors during this one night throughout the entire year. The traditional “Museum Night” has been held in Armenia starting from 2005. This year the day is celebrated on May 21st, an open day in all the museums. The event aims to enhance the role of museums in the socio-cultural life of the society.
On the occasion of the International Museum Day, our shooting crew has visited several museums of Yerevan city and has taken photos of the most interesting exhibits. By the way, all the museums were empty, as a rule. Only a group of Germans could be found in History Museum of Armenia.
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Cafesjian Center for the Arts, Statue of “David of Sasoun” , 1984-1988
In 1980’s, during the construction of Cascade, architect Jim Torosyan(1926-2014) turned to painter Grigor Khanjyan( 1926-2000) and sculptor Artashes Hovsepyan (born in 1931) with the proposal to decorate two of the complex galleries. The proposal was approved. For the course of four years together with four masters Artashes Hovsepyan worked on the gallery, now carrying the name “David of Sasoun”.
The multi-volume work in gallery “David of Sasoun”, portraying three dozens of epic episodes is the sculptural version of the famous work entitled “David of Sasoun” (1922, 47x59 cm, Armenian National Gallery collection) by prominent Armenian painter Hakob Kojoyan(1883-1959). Artashes Hovsepyan did not act merely as an imitator, or a “translator”, but rather attempted to raise the cryptic monumental power of Kojoyan’s painting, by new means of artistic expression and in the language of the sculpture.
The structure of this work has an unusual composition. David appears in the center, riding Kurkik Jalali, holding the sword Tur-Ketsaki ready for the attack. The episode is framed by small illustrations depicting different stages of the titan’s life, among them the birth of David of Sasoun, his first hunting, sheep grazing, as well as the main episodes from the struggle with Msra Melik.
For the first time the visitors can see the statue of “David of Sasoun” on May 21st as part of the “Museum Night”. The hall “David of Sasuoun” will be visited for free.
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Museum after Yervand Kochar, Sculpture "Melancholy" , 1959
This sculpture is the symbol of the collective character of humanity, created in an amazing expressive plasticity.
The big city dissolves the human personality and all of a sudden forces a human being to face Doubts. “His actions become catastrophic for the planet… ”This is the idea Kochar prompted, by inserting the symbol of civilization - skyscrapers inside the sculpture. (Author A. Hovhannisyan)
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History Museum of Armenia, “The World’s Oldest Leather Shoes”, B.C. 6th century
The shoe was found in 2008, during archeological excavations in the site carrying the name “Birds’ Cave” (Trchunneri Karayr) near Areni village, Vayots Dzor region. The shoe was found by Armenian Institute of Archeology and Ethnography of the National Academy of Sciences and by the group of American and Irish archeological expedition. The shoe, intended for the right foot, corresponds to size 37 of the European size chart.
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Museum of Contemporary Art Jansem “My Grandfather’s Funeral”, 1951
Painter Hovhannes Semerdjian (1920-2013) is known by his nickname Jansem. He made his career by creating works conveying exclusively national issues.
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Gevorg Grigoryan (Giotto) workshop-museum, “The Injured Worker”, 1993
Honorary Artist of the Soviet Union Giotto had portrayed the social injustice in his works. In the painting “The Injured Worker”, the worker who is injured during work at a factory is attented not by doctors or even nurses, but rather by the police. According to the author, in times of the Soviet era a worker had no right to get injured.
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Armenian Genocide Museum, “Funeral” , Erzrum, 1895
Funeral at the fraternal cemetery of the Armenians who fell victim to Hamid massacres. Photo by: “The Graphic” newspaper.
