Category: 2018

Tufts Daily, The independent student newspaper of Tufts University

Nov 27 2018

 

  

 

Libby Langsner

November 27, 2018

 

'The Nativity / Presentation in the Temple,' folios 5v-6r of manuscript object 'Four Gospels in Armenian' featured in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's 'Armenia!' exhibition, is pictured. via Metropolitan Museum of Art

 

The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s current exhibition, “Armenia!,” is the first major exhibition of Armenian art in the United States. An exhibition at the New York institution is no small feat and surely legitimizes the art it portrays by launching it into the art history canon. Looking at the rare and beautiful objects on display, it is hard to understand why Armenian art has not featured more prominently in art history’s texts and scholarship.

 

The exhibition, open until Jan. 13, brings together several types of objects such as manuscripts, sculpture, textiles and even church architectural models, showcasing the unique style of Armenian art while highlighting the talent of Armenian craftspeople. The exhibition is held in its own special space, tucked between the Greek and Roman art and European sculpture halls of the Met. And while some may take issue with the exhibition’s positioning, one can also see it as a way of inserting art that has been overlooked into the same space as art that has been revered for centuries. The exhibition’s location prompts visitors to ponder: How is one more artistically valuable than the other, and why do we see it that way?

 

 

“Armenia!” also takes into account the various influences of other cultures in Armenian art, as Armenians were often intermediaries between different cultures due to their location in Asia Minor. What is so interesting about Armenian art — and one can see this through the various objects on exhibition — is how it can take on different influences but still remain utterly unique. The exhibition is a ‘palette’ refresher to the cynical art historian and art lover, as it is a departure from many of the special exhibitions one may expect to see at the Met. It is also a departure from the Met’s permanent collection as well — the museum is separated into wings based on geography and time (Asian, American, modern, etc.), which leaves artworks that fall in between these categories completely out of the picture.

 

Another important takeaway from the show is how it challenges notions of what is and is not considered important art. It provides visitors with the perfect starting point to go back to their art history textbooks and ask what is missing. Art history has a tendency to get rid of people’s national identities and heritages in order to produce a streamlined understanding of art and its context, but in the process, one loses the richness of the history of a work and the person who created it. For a few examples from outside the world of Armenian art, the author of the “Dada Manifesto,” Tristan Tzara, was a Romanian-Jewish artist; the great surrealist Man Ray’s birth name was Emmanuel Radnitzky, born to Russian-Jewish immigrants; and the list could go on. Particular fervor has also been put into promoting the history of women artists, who have also been omitted and sorely overlooked or tokenized by art historians. Contemporary art activist groups such as the Guerrilla Girls attempt to challenge the severe underrepresentation of women artists in major art institutions.

 

Exhibitions like “Armenia!” show how institutions can feature art histories that have not previously been given proper thought and rigor. The show is successful in how it displays its objects with respect and does not treat the subject as insular. Viewers leave the exhibition resoundingly sure that Armenian art deserves even more attention and scholarship than the art world currently provides. They too may be inspired to learn more about Armenian art or look into who has been erased from art history — and more importantly, to find out why.

 

Arminfo, Armenia

Nov 26 2018

Russian expert: The situation around the candidacy of the CSTO Secretary General will not affect the election results in Armenia

Yerevan November 26

Tatevik Shahunyan. The situation around the elections of the CSTO Secretary General is perceived differently in different member countries. Director of the EAEU Institute Vladimir Lepekhin expressed this opinion today at a press conference.

"If for Armenia the situation in the CSTO is intrigue, Belarus doesn't see any intrigue in it. Russia is quite calm about the passions around the post of the Secretary General of the organization," the expert explained.

In general, the situation in the CSTO, he considered the result of the error of some politicians in Armenia. "But I think there is nothing terrible about what is happening, and I am sure that whatever the outcome of the situation is, this will not affect the results of the elections in Armenia," Lepekhin said.

To note, Armenia has withdrawn Yuri Khachatyrov from the post of the CSTO Secretary General, since he is being held as an accused in the case of March 1, 2008. Belarus, with the support of Kazakhstan, is seeking to occupy the post of chairman in the organization ahead of schedule, which is opposed by Armenia, which wants to complete its term as CSTO Secretary General. The issue, by prior arrangement, will be resolved on December 6 at the CSTO summit. -sh–

Arminfo, Armenia

Nov 26 2018

Political technologist: Whatever force comes to power in Armenia, it will be pro-Russian, based on the current realities

Yerevan November 26

Tatevik Shahunyan. In the upcoming parliamentary elections in Armenia in December, the ruling My Step bloc will gain from 65% to 75% of the votes (according to Gallup, the figure is 68.7%, ed.). This forecast was made today by political strategist Vigen Hakobyan at a press conference.

According to him, the "Prosperous Armenia" party in the parliament will take second place in the order of 10% of the votes ("Gallup" predicts 6.7%, ed.). As for the chances of the rest of forces, the expert found it difficult to make a forecast.

At the same time, he said, the election campaign will not unfold around the ideology and programs of political forces. Although, in his opinion, the foreign policy of the political forces will be a key issue of the electoral debate. He noted that, for the time being, mainly political forces with a pro-adaptive one are participating in the elections, but, remarkably, not with an anti-Russian orientation. "However, the key is the fact that whatever force comes to power in Armenia, it will be pro-Russian, based on the current realities," the expert said.

As for the Republican Party, according to Hakobyan, it will purposefully work for the targeted electorate of Nikol Pashinyan's radical opponents and his team. "In this context, the RPA will find it difficult to carry out its maximum program (it seeks to become the second force in parliament), but it can still ensure minimal representation in parliament if it does not break halfway through election campaigning due to great public pressure and pressure from the authorities" – summed up the expert.

Arminfo, Armenia

Nov 26 2018

RPA: For Nikol Pashiyan, the interests of My Step block are more important than the interests of Armenia

Yerevan November 26

Ani Mshetsyan. An unusual situation has developed in the country, and therefore election campaigning will also be unusual. Deputy Chairman of the Republican Party of Armenia, MP of the National Assembly Armen Ashotyan stated this at a press conference on November 26.

He noted that it is very unusual when the Prime Minister, who has not worked too hard already, goes on vacation in order to actively participate in election campaigning, and for two weeks he places the entire responsibility for the fate of the country on the First Deputy Prime Minister. "It is very strange and unusual when the Prime Minister, instead of engaging in the foreign policy of the country, taking into account the situation in the CSTO, heads the election campaign," said the MP, adding that during his leave on leave Nikol Pashinyan confirmed that during his visit to the Gegharkunik region, he actually campaigned for citizens. "And only after he realized this, he resigned," Ashotyan stressed, expressing regret that "for Nikol Pashinyan the interests of the bloc are more important than the interests of the country."

He added that the RPA will not hold large-scale meetings as when they were in power. We will campaign through the press, go home and call on our voters to cast their vote to the RPA. From now on, we will pay more attention to the social problems of the people, now we will be close to our people, "the deputy stressed. The deputy chairman of the Republican Party of Armenia also noted that in the regions candidates nominated by the rating system are already meeting with voters.

To note, last week after the visit Acting Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan in the Gegharkunik region the Republican Party of Armenia made a statement in which they accused the Acting Prime Minister is that he is abusing the administrative resource and is engaged in election campaigning, which, according to all accepted international canons, is a gross abuse of the administrative resource. At the end of the same week, Pashinyan announced that he was going on vacation in order to fully participate in the campaign.

Arminfo, Armenia

Nov 26 2018

Nikol Pashinyan to the Sasna Tsrer Party: I want to remind you that it is not weak-willed Serzh Sarsyan being in power now.

Yerevan November 26

Ani Mshetsyan. And about. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan during the pre-election campaign in Artik city sharply reacted to the statement of representatives of the Sasna Tsrer party that new extraordinary parliamentary elections should take place in Armenia in a year and a half. "Have you really decided that you have the right to decide the fate of the parliament, as well as other people? I want to note that Serzh Sargsyan and his weak power are not the weak-minded in power now," Pashinyan said.

He also stressed once again that no one should take the smiles and the good breeding of the representatives of the bloc for weakness. "There have already been similar precedents, and those who thought so were on asphalt. I do not advise anyone to go this route, no matter who he is," the acting Prime Minister emphasized.

"The next parliament will be legitimate, and it will be valid for as long as the law requires, unless the residents of Armenia decide otherwise," Pashinyan stressed. Note that at the press conference of the Republican Party, Vice Speaker of the Armenian Parliament Arpine Hovhannisyan, referring to this statement of the Sasna Tsrer Party, noted that she hopes that the new parliament of the country will work as much as specified in the Constitution. "I really hope that the new National Assembly will function as much as specified in the Constitution. Since every dissolution of parliament, a change of government is a shock to the country. After all, when the country is constantly in a state of uncertainty, it is very dangerous," the vice-speaker concluded . It should be noted that on November 26, Varuzhn Avetisyan, who heads the Sasna Tsrer party's all-state list, stated that the leadership of the All-Armenian Sasna Tsrer party believes that the next two years for Armenia seem to be transitional, therefore, new extraordinary parliamentary elections.

Arminfo, Armenia

Nov 26 2018

Artsakh reacted harshly to Sasun Mikaelyan's statement that the victory of the people in the revolution is more important than the Artsakh war of liberation

Yerevan November 26

Marianna Mkrtchyan. Vitaly Balasanyan, the secretary of the NKR National Security Council, the hero of Artsakh, reacted harshly to the statement of Sasun Mikayelyan, headed by Nikol Pashinyan, about the victory of the people in the revolution more important than the Artsakh liberation war.

So, Balasanyan's statement says in particular: "Unfortunately, I have to state what happened in the Motherland. The national liberation struggle, founded in 1988, is the victory of our people living in Armenia, Artsakh and the Diaspora. NKR is an achievement and the pride of all Armenians. It is surprising and even angered that these days, during the election campaign to the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia, this is speculated and underplayed in some kind of party interests. The revolution that took place in Armenia in the last period cannot be considered a more serious victory than the Artsakh liberation war, and even more so than the creation of the second Armenian Republic. Such statements at least cast doubt on the participation of such persons in the state-building process. and the fact that such statements are made in the presence of the Supreme Commander of Armenia. Come on in yourself, guys! "

It should be noted that Sasun Mikayelyan, a member of the Armenian parliament, a member of the My Step bloc led by Nikol Pashinyan, believes that the victory of the people in the revolution is more important than the Artsakh war of liberation. "We won the Artsakh war. I'm not afraid to say that this victory that you, the people, won in our country is more important than the Artsakh liberation war," Mikayelyan said during the election campaign with the participation of premiere of Armenia in the city of Talin.