The Hamazkayin "Lucy Tutunjyan" Art Gallery, under the patronage of Mr. and Mrs. Souren and Sonia Sarkissians, organized Syrian and Iraqi artists’ exhibition, the opening of which took place on Thursday, May 12, 2016, at 7: 00 pm, at the Hamazkayin "Lucy Tutunjyan" Art Gallery. Syrian painter Hammud Shantut, sculptor Urupa Tip, as well as Iraqi artists Salam Omar and Mahmoud Shuppar exposed their works.
Staff member of the Hamazkayin "Lucy Tutunjyan" Art Gallery, Suzy Derderian delivered the opening speech. She first introduced the artists participating in the exhibition, highlighting each one's distinctive features. Derderian said that the modern works of the aforementioned artists will hopefully create a pacifistic and violence-free atmosphere in the Gallery. Derderian thanked the sponsors of the exhibition Mrs. Souren and Sonia Sarkissians, and then, she invited the artists to make a speech. The first speaker was Iraqi painter Mahmoud Shuppar․ He said that the message conveyed in his art is love and peace, which are the most important values. Dark colors, such as grey and its different shades dominate in Shuppar’s works. The same scenes in different periods are painted in different shades. Those works are "Falling Idle", "After the Dream" and "Colt City".