The project unites a broad range of creative disciplines. The diversity of our project’s art formats ranges from performing arts, theatre, visual arts, video installations, music, literary arts, dance and kinesiology. Each organisation and participant in the project brings their unique voice, skills, knowledge and network. And they bring opportunities to each other – for learning, support and capacity building, as well as the potential for future artistic collaboration and professional mobility after the project.
Yerevan participates with a visual artist and musician, whose productions will be showcased in autumn 2024, while the music produced will be integrated to the dance performance of Mont Dauphin.
1. Showcase event: Visual arts exhibition
TAI presented a visual arts exhibition from the 12th – 18th of November 2024 at the Charents House-Museum in Yerevan, with artworks spanning from visual arts, needlework, sound installations, live sound performance and more.
Curated by Lilit Stepanyan, the exhibition reflected the memories of individuals who emigrated from Cilicia (Aintab, Marash, Urfa, etc.) in 1915, enduring the hardships of displacement while preserving distinctive forms of Cilician embroidery and lacework. Initially settling in places like Aleppo, they maintained, reproduced, and revitalised these crafts, ultimately passing them down to the next generation upon returning to Armenia.
The exhibition showcased new contemporary artworks by Alexey Manukyan, Armine Atoyan, Vardan Harutyunyan, Anush Ghukasyan, Anton Khlabov, Gohar Sargsyan, Inna Kulupaeva, Lilit Stepanyan, and Lizzy Vartanian. Created using various techniques, these works were inspired by stories of craftsmanship and migration shared during community sessions with Cilician Armenians.
Additionally, it included works from workshops held in Ayntap village in 2023, with participants from Aintab School No. 1 and the Marine Galstyan Studio. During the opening, there was a performance by Vardan Harutyunyan and Anahit Isunts.
Artworks:
Watch the animation by Gohar Sargsyan below:
Listen to Lilit Stepanyan’s sound art installation below:
https://on.soundcloud.com/sNjbqRjhK15Fss2T6
2. Co-creation workshops with the community
During the residency in Armenia, several co-creation workshops with the local community were organised, were artists from Armenia and the partner countries shared the artistic practices in a participatory way with the local Armenian community.
- Lace workshop https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w7THCGo4Ab0&t=13s
- Ayntab needlework https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_PbN80Aucc
- Dance workshop by the French team https://youtu.be/qYx5q74bxdM
