"Kobalt" Artists' Union / selected projects
“Kobalt” Union NGO has been founded in 1995 in Yerevan by two young female artists – Arpine Tokmajyan and Zara Manucharyan. The aim was to create a platform for female artists to implement contemporary/ experimental art projects, as well as carry out joint and exchange projects together with foreign artists.
After Armenia became independent in 1991 we believed that Armenia, and especially the field of art needs fresh streams and many exchanges to overcome our geopolitical and cultural isolation, in the aftermaths of the Soviet Union.
The idea to establish a female artists union was a result of collaboration with German artist Anke de Vries the head of "Kobalt" Frauen-Kunst-und-Medien e. V. Between 1997-2001 members of Kobalt did more than 10 art projects, mainly actions and performances (all curated by Arpine Tokmajyan and Zara Manucharyan).
Later Kobalt abrogated gender limitation for membership. In this period Kobalt carried out exhibitions and art projects. Among those, the most remarkable project was the “Art-a-Nish” Workshop within the frame of the 5th Gyumri International Biennial 2006 curated by Narine Zolyan and Harutyun Zulumyan, project director Arpine Tokmajyan .
International Female Artists Symposium &
"Synthetic World" Open-air performance
2001 Tsaghkadzor,Yerevan, Armenia
Curators & organizers: Arpine Tokmajyan, Zara Manucharyan
The “Art, Time, Space” International Female Artists Symposium was organized by “Kobalt” Union in 2001. It took place in Tsaghkadzor and Yerevan (Armenia). The Symposium included seminars, workshop, "Synthetic World" action, presentation of video materials & meeting with participants. 14 female artists from 7 counties took part in it.
Participant Artists: Marina Perchkhina /RUSSIA, Irina Abdjandadze /GEORGIA, Tamara Sulamanidze /GEORGIA, Ute Kilter /UKRAINE, Helen Kurkchian /GERMANY, Irina Golochalova /KYRGYZSTAN, Inguna Kurtsens /LATVIA, Natalia Zubovich /RUSSIA, Ekaterina Fonariova /RUSSIA, Olesya Ostrovska /UKRAINE, Zara Manucharyan /ARMENIA, Arpine Tokmajyan /ARMENIA, Gayane Karadgyan /ARMENIA, Luiza Ter-Sargsyan /ARMENIA
“Individuality and Unity" open-air action
1997 G. Chaush st.,Yerevan, Armenia
Curators: Arpine Tokmajyan, Zara Manucharyan
The action symbolizes unity, where everyone retains their subjective individuality
The artists create a circle around the columns of construction, made of pieces of painted canvas. The harmonious cooperation of these individuals inside this perfect geometrical form generates new creative power.
The action took place in an unfinished building, that was left in that condition for decades in the suburb of Yerevan.
Artists: Anke de Vris /GERMANY, Barbara Baum /GERMANY, Marlis Bredehorst /GERMANY, Zigrid Topkind /GERMANY, Iler Green /GERMANY, Bruni Regenbogen /GERMANY, Christine Woostehube /GERMANY, Yevgine Martirosyan /ARMENIA, Olga Adamyan /ARMENIA, Gayane Karajyan /ARMENIA, Hasmik Gasparyan /ARMENIA,, Anna Kolozyan /ARMENIA,, Armine Nikoghosyan /ARMENIA, Zara Gasparyan /ARMENIA, Zara Manucharyan /ARMENIA, Arpine Tokmajyan /ARMENIA