MELKONIAN TO DISPLAY LATEST WORKS IN TEHRAN

Mehr News Agency, Tehran
June 6 2006

TEHRAN, June 6 (MNA) – An exhibition of paintings by Sirak Melkonian
is to open at the Mah Gallery in Tehran on June 9, the student news
agency ISNA reported here on Tuesday.

Melkonian is to display several paintings and drawings printed
on canvas.

His works reveal the painter’s perception of art over the past
30 years.

Melkonian is one of the main members of the group of painters and
sculptors, which was founded in the 1960s by Marco Grigorian and
Masud Arabshahi and came to life with Melkonian, Abdorreza Daryabeigi,
Morteza Momayyez, Faramarz Pilaram, and Gholamhossein Nami.

The group, the first center that introduced the conceptual art in Iran,
was dissolved in 1977, prompting Melkonian to leave the country and
live in Toronto, Canada.

Melkonian has participated in the biennials of Venice and Paris,
and other exhibitions in France, Armenia, Europe, the United States,
and Iran.

He is also scheduled to review the 1960s painters’ works at the
Iranian Artists Forum on June 12.