ARTISTS’ UNION OF ARMENIA CELEBRATES ITS 75TH ANNIVERSARY
By Ilona Kamalian, Translated by Anoush
AZG Armenian Daily #160
05/09/2007
An important cultural event is to take place in Yerevan. The renovated
building of RA Artists’ Union will soon open with new exhibition
hall to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the union. Karen Aghamian,
chairman of RA Artists’ Union, said that already in 2-3 months the
union will open its exhibition halls for the art -lovers.
According to Aghamian, at present, positive developments are being
observed, including the realization of the union’s renovation
program. In the course of the last few years, the union enlarged
its activities, in particular, became a member of International Art
Union at UNESCO. Armenia has already participated in the All-European
conferences of the union in Moscow and Istanbul, as well as in Athens
and Peking. In Peking they discussed the means of transportation of
works of art in the conditions of globalization. The transportation
of the works of art should be ruled by international regulation.
Every year, the International Union of Artists’ Union holds
exhibitions, where Armenia is provided with 50 square meters of
exhibition halls.
Aghamian isn’t very encouraged by the current situation of Fine Arts
in Armenia. He said that about 100 of 1000 members of RA Artists’
Union have left the country.
Many painters sell fake pictures instead of genuine art. Only
authority experts in art can judge the pieces of art and include the
best ones in the exhibitions of the union. Here, the art lovers can
make their choice.
Today RA Artists’ Union organizes various exhibitions for free. Last
year, a retrospective exhibition of Armenia based painters was held
in Stepanakert.
Earlier, the Union organized the exhibition of Armenian painters from
Artsakh, Javakhk and Goris in Yerevan.
But, anyway, RA Artists’ Union still needs the support of state
bodies. RA Law on Creative Unions is likely to solve some of the
problems for painters. One of such problems is the tax on property
that has been increased by 690 times. The high prices for territories
force the artists leave their studios.
"The state should be farsighted. Irresponsible policy in the cultural
sphere may cause spiritual and cultural decline. Such values are hard
to restore than the material ones," Mr. Aghamian underscored.