Armenity: Diaspora artists to represent Armenia in Venice Biennale

In this symbolic year 2015, on the occasion of the Armenian Genocide centennial commemoration, the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Armenia has dedicated its pavilion, Armenity in the Venice Biennale to the artists of the Armenian Diaspora. It will be located at the Mekhitarist Monastery on the island of San Lazzaro degli Armeni.

Contemporary artists from the Armenian Diaspora, including Haig Aivazian, Lebanon/France; Nigol Bezjian, Syria/USA; Anna Boghiguian Egypt/Canada; Hera Büyüktaşçıyan, Turkey; Silvina Der-Meguerditchian, Argentina/Germany; Rene Gabri & Ayreen Anastas, Iran/Palestine/USA; Mekhitar Garabedian, Belgium; Aikaterini Gegisian, Greece; Yervant Gianikian & Angela Ricci Lucchi, Italy; Aram Jibilian, USA; Nina Katchadourian, USA/Finland; Melik Ohanian, France; Mikayel Ohanjanyan, Armenia/Italy; Rosana Palazyan, Brasil; Sarkis, Turkey/France; Hrair Sarkissian, Syria/UK will represent Armenia.

The curatorial concept of Armenity implies the notion of displacement and territory, justice and reconciliation, ethos and resilience. Regardless of their place of birth, the selected artists carry within their identity the memory of their origins.
An accompanying catalogue will contain color reproductions and texts in English and Armenian. An introduction, forewords and curatorial texts will be followed dedicated to each of the 16 artists. The catalogue will contain essays by New York-based art historian and independent curator Neery Melkonian and London-based art writer and Ibraaz editor Stephanie Bailey.

In the context of Armenity, the Piccolo Amphitheater of the Arsenale will host from September 5 to 11 a series of performances, discussions and video projections by performing artists, poets and independent filmmakers originally from Asia Minor.