MINAS AND HIS CONTEMPORARIES
By Marietta Makarian, translated by A.M.

AZG Armenian Daily #203
06/11/2007

Culture

Minas, the renowned Armenian painter, created a world of his own,
for the whole world… this were the words, with which the art of
Minas was described during the opening ceremony of am exhibition
organized on November 3. The exhibition is entitled "Minas and His
Contemporaries". To the ceremony were present Armen Gasparian, head
of the Armenian Painting Department of the National Picture Gallery
of Armenia, Armen Avetisian, director of home-museum of Minas and
Narek Avetisian, the sons of the painter.

Minas Avetisian deeply suffered the fate of his nation, and that pain
was expressed in his works.

Nevertheless, Minas had a certain portion of optimism, and so did his
contemporaries. Due to the efforts of the National Picture Gallery
and the exhibition’s organization staff, works of 10 more Armenian
painters are represented by the side of Minas works. This collections
shows that the 60’s and 70’s of the twentieth century were indeed
years of flourish of Armenian art. Speaking of the genius of Minas one
should never forget the atmosphere in which he used to work, and that
atmosphere was formed by such gifted artists as Edward Artsrunian,
Knarik Hovhannisian, Seyran Khatlamajian, Lavinina Bashbeuk-Melikian,
Hovhannes Minasian, Alexander Grigorian, Henrik Siravian, Vruyr
Galstian and Ashot Hovhannisian.

>From the elder son of Minas, Arman Avetisian "Azg" correspondent
learned that the Culture Ministry of Armenia granted AMD 5,500 million
for the restoration of Minas’ frescos and their transportation. "There
is a number of professional and technical problems and experts from
Itlay shall be invited in order to find out whether the frescos can
be transported or no.

There is also another idea of establishing small museums in the places
of location of the frescos.

These projects are under consideration yet and only after the research
the fate of the frescos will be decided. At present the frescos
are located in humid and dilapidated vaults, and their existence is
threatened," say Armenian experts.