It’s a
cultural archaeology of the history and aesthetic practices of Dilijan,
Armenia, culminating in a two day public event.
IDeA (Initiatives for Development of
Armenia) Foundation and Dilijan Development Foundation (DDF) announce the
launch of the Dilijan Arts Observatory, an experimental interdisciplinary think
tank, which aims to develop new models for art practice and higher education in
Dilijan. The first major international art event in Armenia organised by the
Dilijan Art Initiative, the Observatory will bring together an international
group of artists, cultural historians and environmental scientists to Armenia
from 22 August – 11 September 2016.
Dilijan Art Initiative is a complex
project that seeks to promote Dilijan and Armenian culture internationally,
providing support for the presentation of work by artists from the Armenian
diaspora in the world’s leading exhibitions and major cultural events. Dilijan
Art Initiative supported Armenity/Hayoutioun; the National Pavilion of the
Republic of Armenia at the 56th Venice Biennale, which was awarded the Golden
Lion, the highest possible honour for a national pavilion, and the Armenian
programme at the 14th Istanbul Biennial devoted to the research of Armenian
history and trauma in contemporary Turkey.
Dilijan Arts Observatory, which is a
part of the Dilijan Art Initiative project, is supported by philanthropists
Ruben Vardanyan and Veronika Zonabend, Founders of the United World College
Dilijan, RVVZ and IDeA charitable foundations, and Co-Founders of DDF, as well
as another DDF Co-Founder Gagik Adibekyan who is also the Founder of Adibekyan
Family Foundation for Advancement.
The Dilijan Arts Observatory has
been devised by international curator and anthropologist Clémentine Deliss, and
will bring together a group of historians and practitioners to undertake
fieldwork in the town, working closely with its citizens and identifying local
wisdom or folkways. The event will take place in the ancient spa town and
mountain retreat of Dilijan, which once hosted composers Dmitri Shostakovich
and Benjamin Britten, among other famous people.
Fieldwork activities will include
investigating style, crafts, graphics; music, composition and astronomy; Soviet
architecture and design; culinary knowledge; wilderness,botanyand future
products for survival. The Observatory will take place in Dilijan and
neighbouring villages, adopting the former Soviet Impuls electronics factory in
Dilijan as its headquarters. A classic example of Soviet industrial
architecture, 4000 employees once worked in the Impuls Factory under the order
of the Soviet Defence Ministry, before it was privatised.
On 10th and 11th September
2016, a two-day public event will be held in Dilijan, presenting the results
with a series of events, including an all-night symphony, culinary festivities,
performances and exhibitions, as well as an international round-table debate on
a future academy for art and life practices.
Dilijan Arts Observatory participants: Vahram
Aghasyan (AM), Haig Aivazian (CA), Alen Amirkhanian (AM), Ruben Arevshatyan
(AM), Vardan Azatyan (AM), Erik van Buuren (NL), Katerina Chuchalina (RU),
Vardan Danielyan (AM), Mohamad Deeb (LB), Clémentine Deliss (GB), Silvina Der
Meguerditchian (AM), Arpad Dobriban (DE), Andrew de Freitas (NZ), David
Galstyan (AM), Vigen Galstyan (AM), Natasha Gasparian (LB), Raphaela Grolimund
(CH), Angela Harutyunyan (AM), Krispin Heé (CH), Misha Hollenbach(AU), Marc
Norbert Hörler (CH), Marianna Hovhannisyan (AM), Christoph Keller (DE), Aram
Keryan (AM), Nairi Khatchadourian (AM),Antje Majewski (DE), Augustin Maurs
(FR), Ioana Mitrea (RO), Maria Mkrtycheva (RU), Mathilde Rosier (CH), Marcello
Spada (IT), Pascal Storz (CH), Shauna Toohey, Perks and Mini (AU), Joanna
Sokolowska (PL), Hasmik Ter-Voskanian (AM), Vangjush Vellahu (AL), Jasmine
Werner (DE), Asya Yaghmurian (AM), Nork Zakarian (EG).
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