5th Gyumri International Biennial
2006 Gyumri, Armenia
Sea: Dreams and Illusions
Curator: Arpine Tokmajyan
“Art-a-Nish” workshop co-curators: Narine Zolyan, Harutyun Zulumyan
Greek artist’s curator: Maria Tsantsanoghluo
Swiss artists’ curator: Marlyne Sahakian
Austrian artists’ coordinator: Claudia Maria Luenig
Dreams and imaginings are inseparable from individuals, nations and society.
Nowadays, we are eye-witnesses of global changes in value systems and public order. But even now, when materialistic values prevail, most utopian dreams have a real influence on the thinking and activities of both individuals and societies.
Water, sea and the oceans used to be and still are a source of numerous legends, myths and dreams. In the case of Armenia, as its territory is not adjacent to any sea or ocean, this is all the more intense. Should we forget and overcome the longing for unrealizable dreams, or should we protect and foster them? The research of dreams, in my opinion, could be a way to self-knowledge.
The 5th Gyumri International Biennial attempted to materialize sea-related dreams and illusions through the works of participant-artists.
119 artists from 20 countries participated in the 5th Gyumri International Biennial.
A one week workshop took place on the shore of Lake Sevan before the main show presentation. It originated from the theme of this year’s Biennial. The workshop took place in two locations, one of which was in the village of Artanish. Besides being a part of the Gyumri Biennial was also aimed to become the first step towards building
up an Art-Residence program entitled "Art-a-Nish".
The Gyumri Biennial exposition opened in Gyumri 12 August, 2006 and included 5 exhibition spaces: "Stil" Art Museum, Aslamazian Sisters Museum, unfinished building of "Zigzag" store, Museum of National Architecture and Urban Life, S.D. Merkurov Memorial Museum, Children's Aesthetic Center.
The Swiss "Gonche" organization awarded a prize for young Armenian artists, to Mkrtich Tonoyan for his "Armenia from Sea to Sea" performance.
Artists:
/ARGENTINA/GERMANY: Silvina Der-Meguertitchian /ARMENIA: Vahram Aghasyan, Armine Amirjanyan, Ashot Avagyan, Mher Azatyan, Samvel Baghdasaryan, Siranush Baghdasaryan, Gayane Cholakhyan, Arman Grigoryan, Armine Hovhannisyan, Hakob Hovhannisyan, Marianna Hovhannisyan, Karine Matsakyan, Tamil Melqonyan & Nazeli Kocharyan, Naira Muradyan, Ara Petrosyan, Artur Petrosyan, Azat Sargsyan, Arman Tadevosyan & Aleksey Manukyan, Arpine Tokmajyan, Mkrtich Tonoyan, Armine Vardanyan, VAZO, Narine Zolyan /AUSTRIA: Sabina Groschup, Julie Hayward, Claudia Maria Luenig & Fred Misik, Jurgen Ramacher & Christian Einfalt /BRAZIL: Valerie Dantas Mota, Hugo Fortes, Ines Raphaelian /BULGARIA: Elena Panayotova /CANADA/RUSSIA:Tatiana Yanovskaya /ECUADOR: Estefania Penafiel /FRANCE: Achot Achot, Nathalie Brevet & Huges Rochette, Veronique Collignon, Avetis Kazarian, Liste Rouge, Antoinette Ohannessian, Cecile Pages, Marlene Peronet, Bertrand Planes, Diego Sarramon, Arthur Yang /GEORGIA: Murtaz Shvelidze, Guram Tsibakashvili, Iliko Zautashvili /GERMANY: Archi Galenz, Peter Haury & Elke Hammelstein, Ellen Rein, Hanns-Michael Rupprechter, Georg Weckwerth /GREECE: Lizzie Calligas, Giorgos Efstathoulidis, Akaterini Gegisian, Stratos Kalafatis, Evanthia Tsantila, Danae Stratou /IRAN: Barbad Goshir, Behrang Samazadegan, Rosita Sharafjahan /KOREA/SWITZERLAND: Kim Seob Boninsigni /NETHERLANDS: Bee Flowers /PORTUGAL: Luis Nobre /RUSSIA: Natalia Abalakova & Anatoli Djigalov, Angela Arsenkey, Sergey Balandin, Alexandr Dorokhov, Polina Druskinas, Georgi Kvantrishvili, Natalia Lamanova, Alexandr Sokolov, Aleksey Sosna /SWITZERLAND: Thomas Bonny, Carl June /TAIWAN: Yuki /TURKEY: Neslinur Akgun, Selda Asal, Burak Bedenlier, Selim Birsel, Elif Celebi, Elmaz Deniz, Inci Eviner, Cem Gencer, Murat Gunes, Berat Isik, Borga Kanturk, Gulsun Karamustafa, Arhan Kayar, Aydan Murtezaoglu, Ceren Oykut, Bulent Sangar, Emre & Ali Senan, Hale Tenger & Serdar Ateser, Muruvet Turkyilmaz, Vahit Tuna, Elfe Uluc, Ozgur Yasaroglu, Cem Yardimci & John Barret /UK: Vivienne Baker, Amanda Francis, Neville Gabie, Ana Genoves, Sarah Jones, Louis Nixon, Eamon O’Kane, Lissa Scantlebury, Louise Short, Wanda Zyborska