Sponsored by the Prime Minister of Lebanon Najib Mikati, the Lucy Tutunjian Exhibition Hall of Hamazkayin hosted the grand opening of a collective art exhibition titled “Lebanon,” which was held Thursday, September 6, 2012, at 7:00 PM at the stunning Zein building in Central Beirut. Prime Minister Najib Mikati, Lebanese political figures, official representatives, artists, art specialists, and a large audience attended the event.
Following the Lebanese national anthem, Mary Choloian welcomed the audience and said in the past three years the Lucy Tutunjian Exhibition Hall of Hamazkayin has organized exhibitions for the works of Armenian, Lebanese, and foreign artists and today continues its mission despite the risky conditions in the region.
Ms. Choloian expressed the hope that this initiative will be repeated in the future to promote the creation of strong bonds between Lebanese artists and to serve the development of the Lebanese art.
Afterwards, Hagop Havatian, the director of Hamazkayin Publishing and the exhibition hall, took the stage and said the exhibition is an opportunity to showcase the important role Beirut plays in the development of civilizations and arts. He added that the Lebanese people ought to preserve the cultural riches of Lebanon.
Mr. Havatian thanked Prime Minister Najib Mikati for sponsoring the exhibition. Quoting the Prime Minister’s slogan “We all are for the fatherland, we all are for labor,” Mr. Havatian affirmed that the Armenian community has absolutely followed the same principle at all times.
Afterwards, Sarkis Armenian, the chairperson of the committee of the exhibition hall presented Prime Minister Najib Mikati with a souvenir in appreciation for his sponsorship. On this occasion, the Prime Minister praised the meaningful activity of the Lucy Tutunjian Exhibition Hall of Hamazkayin that encourages artists, establishes relations between cultures, and in general serves for the development of Lebanese arts.
Mr. Mikati said that in the current difficulties faced by the country, art is the best means to create communication between the different cultures. He highlighted the fact that as long as similar exhibitions are organized the future of the country is safeguarded and it becomes possible to overcome difficulties.
The exhibition features the paintings and sculptures of 36 Lebanese Armenian, Lebanese, and Armenian from Armenia artists, each of whom truly embodies the title of the exhibition with their nuances, themes, and artistic particularities.
At the entrance of the exhibition hall, the Parsegh Ganachian Music College of Hamazkayin presented an art program. The first one to perform was the guitar ensemble, directed by Mgrdich Mikayelian. Afterward, Hagop Kelougian and Missak Der Sarkissian performed on the doudouk. Towards the end of the art program, Marineh Hallajian and Talar Manjigian performed classical music on the violin.
The exhibition will continue until September 16, 2012, from 3:00 PM to 9:00 PM. The following artists are taking part in this exhibition: Agopian, Anna Shahnazarian, Arev Bedrossian, Arpi Vartanian, Arthur K., Charbel Samuel Aoun, Charles Khoury, Daderian, Emmanuel Giragossian, Faysal Soultan, Gago, Gerard Avedissian, Ghassan Ghazal, Gulen Der Boghossian, Guvder, Hrair, Hrach Aintablian, Jacklin Ohanian, Janet Yapoujian, Jean Paul Giragossian, Lavrendi Aghassian, Lucy Tutunjian, Manuella Giragossian, Mireille Gogigian, Missak Terzian, Norigian, Raffi Tokatlian, Raffi Yedalian, Raouf Riffayi, Razmig Bertizlian, Rosevart Sisserian, Seta Bekarian, Torossian, Wissam Beidoun, Zaven Khedeshian, and Zeina Badran.