In the interview with Aravot.am, the artist Sahak Poghosyan said the following about Armenia’s participation in Venice Biennale, “I have raised questions during the previous biennale. The former one at least established a formal committee by appointing a curator and a project was taken to Venice. Then, too, there were a lot of casus, but it is in the past. How is this year’s Venice Biennale organized now..?” According to Sahak Poghosyan, the Venice Biennale is an important international platform, in which Armenia can present with a contemporary art, and the whole world presents there.
The following questions are left “dark” for the artist. How is the curator selected for the 2015 Venice International Art Biennale? How are the selected artists related to the Republic of Armenia (the professional qualities of the artists are not considered, there are wonderful artists among them)? What is meant by the concept of Biennale Armenity? How much public funds are provided? The showroom of the island of San Lazzaro is chosen to be the Armenian pavilion, where during the last Biennale, it was impossible to display the works of one single artist, so how they are going to display the works of 18 artists. Sahak Poghosyan said that according to preliminary data, Sargis Zabunyan will represent Turkey this year, but he is also in the artists representing Armenia, so according to the Charter, can the same artist represent two countries? It seems strange to Sahak Poghosyan that all 18 artists selected to act under the Armenian “flag” represent the Diaspora, and there is no local artist on the list.
Our interlocutor has also concerns about the concept of Biennale Armenity. “If it is Armenity, then something national underlies, tomorrow or the next day, we may be accused of fascism. They (the Ministry of Culture and the coordinator – G.H.) do not realize of what may happen in the future. This is in the case when the same Turkish world will present an Armenian-origin artist, Sarkis Zabunyan. These deep-reaching things, and something else can emerge underneath it. Let them leave a room for maneuver at least on half way. I would like to help but I do not get a response.” Sahak Poghosyan says that many people may think that he does not have any private interest as an artist, which is actually not the case. “This is the third or fourth Biennale that I declare that, if you select, I will not participate and will refuse. Why? Because Armenia does not rent a stall in a place where the whole world is present. Armenia is going to San Lazzaro Island, where no professional viewer comes. A small room is provided there as an exhibition hall, where barely one or two artists will be able to be present.
Gohar HAKOBYAN
