I am excited to announce that I have curated a sale of contemporary Armenian Art for the platform Auc Art titled Ճակատագրից չես փախչի (You Cannot Escape From Destiny)

The sale’s title comes from the Armenian proverb, ‘You cannot escape from destiny’, describing the rich cultural tapestry shared by myself and my selected artists – Arda Aslanian, Hagop Kalaidjian, Narek Barseghyan, Ripsime, Thenie Khatchatourov, Muriel Jaouich and Alisha Sofia. Composed of a variety of mixed media — including photography, works on paper and oil on canvas — the sale pays homage to the rich heritage of Armenia, and with that, themes of nationhood, home and belonging.

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The ancient country located in the Caucasus region was the first in the world to adopt Christianity as its official religion. It is therefore not surprising that Armenian art has religious roots, influenced by richly decorated illuminated manuscripts, textiles and architecture which decorates the ancient nation. Whilst many contemporary Armenian artists have been influenced by more modern techniques, others draw inspiration from the abundant body of Armenian tradition.

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Nestled at the crossroads of East and West, Armenia is a small mountainous country, rich in culture, history, tradition and legend. Despite more Armenians living outside of their homeland than within its borders, the Armenian identity and connection to the land endures. For many Armenians, Armenia is a mythical, magical place, one that we experience through photographs, music, nursery rhymes and food.

For those of us of Armenian descent, it is almost impossible to escape that attachment to our roots. Like destiny, it follows us, pulling us back, directing us towards our home, reminding us of where we came from, manifesting itself in depictions of delicate needlelace, hommages to our mountains and tributes to our folklore, binding us to a fate we can never escape. 

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You can view the sale via Auc Art here