The Ark still not in the water

De Twentsche Courant Tubantia (Dutch regional newspaper)
28 January 2008

ALMELO – One needs a license to exhibit an art piece in the city’s pond.

Noah’s Ark, Petros Margosyan’s art piece, should have been in the pond near
restaurant Kreta last summer. But official regulations delayed the placing.
Margosyan first had to apply for a license at the municipality of Almelo. It
would cost him more than 250 euros to receive the right to exhibit his art
piece in the pond. An amount that the artist cannot afford so easily.

"That is why I asked the City Fund for a contribution, but my request was
denied. It did not coincide with the causes of the City Fund." Margosyan
finds it ‘strange.’ But he has accepted the fact and has been trying to
collect the money by selling his art. Until March 3 Margosyan will be
exhibiting almost thirty of his art pieces in nursing home Eugeria. "Almelo
enjoys looking at his art, but buys too little," the artist of Armenian
descent laughs. Two other Armenian artists are exhibiting their works
opposite to the nursing home, in care center De Klokkenbelt.

Margosyan came to the Netherlands twenty-four years ago from Armenia. Not as
an artist but as a maker of fur coats. He was discovered as an artist only
five years ago by Ger Bonsink. Margosyan now has a permanent spot in the art
workshop on the Vissedijk. Although the artist feels Dutch, he will always
be connected to his homeland Armenia. For this reason, Margosyan wants to
bring Dutch people in touch with Armenian culture. "I would like to build a
bridge between the two peoples through art. That is why I would like to hold
a yearly exhibition in Kunsthal Hof 88 with Armenian artists from all over
the world. The exhibition will last a month and will be held in July or
August. The first edition will be held this year," Margosyan says
confidently. The negotiations have not yet been settled, but Margosyan is
convinced that everyone supports his plans.

Margosyan will also bring the two Armenian artists Bogosyan and Agabekyan to
partake in the Workshop Route.

Petros Margosyan’s exhibition in Eugeria will run until March 3. Noah’s Ark
is expected to be released in the water on the Thursday before Easter, on
March 20. Until then, the work can be seen at Music School Twente.