DAYS OF ARSHIL GORKI START IN ARMENIA

Noyan Tapan

Se p 12, 2008

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 12, NOYAN TAPAN. On the initiative of the RA
ministry of culture and the National Association of Art Critics,
"The Days of Arshil Gorki in Armenia" program dedicated to the
60th anniversary of the painter’s death began on September 11. The
program was launched in Etchmiadzin, at Arshil Gorki Museum where
the reproductions of his works are on display. In the words of the
museum director Shahen Khachatrian, although the museum has not been
opened yet because the hall’s illumination work has to be completed,
it was decided to start the Days of Gorki at this museum as the future
collection place of Gorki’s legacy.

The building of the museum was constructed a hundred years ago on
the initiative of Khrimian Hayrik and was to serve as the treasure
house of the patriarchate. However, the building was used as a shelter
of orphans, a medical and military center, then as a storehouse. In
the days of Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II the building was
reconstructed and turned into a museum.

Arshil Gorki’s sister bequeathed his works to Etchmiadzin. His
paintings are currently kept at the Gyulbenkian Museum in Portugal. An
agreement has been reached to acquire the originals of 52 paintings by
Gorki in order to bring them to Yerevan and keep at the museum. At
present the Etchmiadzin museum has only one original of Gorki’s
drawings. Most of his works are now in various museums of the United
States.

The chairman of the National Association of Art Critics Nazaret
Karoyan said that the indicated one-week program aims to present
Gorki’s art and legacy to the Armenian public. A. Gorki was an
abstract expressionist and his style later had a great influence on
other painters.

A conference "Arshil Gorki and Armenia" with the participation of
Armenian and foreign historians, art critics and experts on Gorki’s
works is held at the National Picture Gallery on September 12.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress