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Opening September 22 at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Armenia!
explores the arts and culture of the Armenians from their conversion to
Christianity in the early fourth century through their leading role on
international trade routes in the 17th century. The exhibition
emphasizes how Armenians developed a
distinctive national identity in their homeland at the base of Mt.
Ararat (widely accepted as the resting place of Noah's Ark) and how they
maintained and transformed their traditions as their communities
expanded across the globe.
More than 140 opulent gilded reliquaries, richly
illuminated manuscripts, rare textiles, liturgical furnishings made of
precious materials, khachkars (cross stones), church models, and printed
books demonstrate Armenia's distinctive imagery in their homeland and
other major Armenian sites, from the Kingdom of Cilicia on the
Mediterranean to New Julfa, in Safavid Persia. Select comparative works
display Armenian interaction with other cultures.
Major Armenian repositories of their culture provide almost
all the works in the exhibition. Most are on view in the United States
for the first time; many have not traveled for centuries.
The exhibition is made possible by The Hagop Kevorkian Fund.
Additional support is provided by the Carnegie Corporation of New
York, The Giorgi Family Foundation, the Karagheusian Foundation, The
Nazar and Artemis Nazarian Family, the Ruddock Foundation for the Arts,
The Strauch Kulhanjian Family and The Paros Foundation, Aso O. Tavitian,
and the National Endowment for the Arts.
Armenia! focuses on major Armenian
centers of production from their homeland west and east, with emphasis
on images of Armenians, from self-portraits to depictions of male and
female rulers, donors, theologians, and historians. Special attention is
given to works by major artists such as T'oros Roslin, Sargis Pidzak,
Toros Taronatsi, and Hakob of Julfa working in the Armenian homeland,
the Kingdom of Cilicia, and New Julfa.
More than half of the works on display are on loan from The
Republic of Armenia with the support of The Ministry of Culture.
Imposing liturgical works are coming from the Mother See of Holy
Etchmiadzin, the primary site of the Armenian Church. In Yerevan, the
"Matenadaran" Mesrop Masthots` Institute - Museum of Ancient Manuscripts
is lending exceptional manuscripts, and the History Museum of Armenia
is lending monumental church sculptures. The Holy See of Cilicia in
Lebanon, the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem, and the Armenian
Mekhitarist Congregation in Venice are the other major Armenian
religious communities lending exceptional works. Armenian collections
lending select works are the Calouste Gulbenkian Museum in Portugal and
in America, the Diocese of the Armenian Church (Eastern) (New York); the
Armenian Museum of America (Boston); and the Alex and Marie Manoogian
Museum (Southfield, Michigan). Additional works are coming from The Met
and other American and European institutions.
Photographs of Armenian architecture and landscapes by noted
Armenian-Canadian photographer Hrair Hawk Khatcherian and his assistant
Lilit Khachatryan will provide context for the works in the exhibition,
in the catalogue, and on the exhibition page of the website.
Credits
The exhibition was organized by Helen C. Evans, the Mary and
Michael Jaharis Curator of Byzantine Art, with the support of C.
Griffith Mann, the Michel David-Weill Curator in Charge, Department of
Medieval Art and The Cloisters, assisted by Constance Alchermes,
Research Assistant.
Exhibition design is by Michael Langley, Exhibition Design Manager;
graphics are by Chelsea Amato and Morton Lebigre, Graphic Designers;
and lighting is by Clint Ross Coller and Richard Lichte, Lighting Design
Managers.
Programs and Catalogue
Education programs will include an international symposium,
lectures, concerts, a website, a blog and group tours of the exhibition.
The symposium is made possible by The Armenian Center at Columbia University.
Armenia! is accompanied by a lavishly
illustrated catalogue suitable for the general public and specialists
alike. Published by The Metropolitan Museum of Art and distributed by
Yale University Press, the book will be available in The Met Store ($65,
hardcover).
The catalogue is made possible by the Michel David-Weill
Fund, The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, the Dolores Zohrab Liebmann Fund,
the Ruben Vardanyan and Veronika Zonabend Family Foundation, Joanne A.
Peterson, The Tianaderrah Foundation, The Armenian Center at Columbia
University, Elizabeth and Jean-Marie Eveillard, and Souran G. and Carol
R.K. Ouzounian.
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