ARMENIAN PAINTER WINS IN UN CONTEST OF YOUNG PAINTERS
Noyan Tapan
Oct 22, 2007
NEW YORK, OCTOBER 22, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Mariam Marukian,
a thirteen year-old girl from Armenia, is among the 6 winners
of the International Contest of Young Painters. She was handed a
corresponding diploma by Sha Zukang, the UN Under-Secretary General,
during the solemn award-giving ceremony held in the UN headquarters
on October 17, which was organized within the frameworks of the events
dedicated to the International Day for Poverty Reduction.
According to the information provided to Noyan Tapan by the Press
and Information Department of the RA Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
the contest was organized in Armenia by the Office of the UN Public
Information Department in Armenia.
12000 works were introduced from almost all the countries of the world,
including 471 from Armenia. The paintings of the six winners will be
depicted on the 2008 postage-stamps issued by the UN. Mariam, in fact,
is the only winner, who represents the European continent.
The permanent representation of Armenia in the UN turned to the
Armenian General Benevolent Union with the request to provide the
participation of Mariam in the contest after learning about the success
of the Armenian painter. The Armenian General Benevolent Union took the
expenses of the journey of Mariam and her teacher R. Hakobian to New
York and their living expenses upon itself with generosity. Karekin
II, the Catholicos of All Armenians, and First Lady Bella Kocharian
also took part in this undertaking.
Mariam is parentless, she lives in Yerevan with her grandmother and
attends the painting classes of Ruzanna Hakobian in the youthful
center of Holy Etchmiadzin and the Armenian General Benevolent Union.
The works of the Armenian painters presented in the contest were
honored with the praising of the international jury for a high
aesthetical quality.