The “Arevelk” newspaper recently published information that a piece of land is allocated in Yerevan for the construction of an international museum of photography. According to the source, the museum will exhibit the photographs of Istanbul-based Armenian photographer Ara Güler. The information was conveyed personally to the photographer in Istanbul by the Armenian representative of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC). Arsen Avagyan. Aravot.am asked MFA Spokesman Tigran Balayan to comment and give some clarity. In the written response, he says, the “Arevelk” newspaper made own interpretation of the news about the meeting of RA representative Arsen Avagyan and Ara Güler at the BSEC published in one of the newspaper in Istanbul, and as a result, phrases were attributed to A. Avagyan which he did not make.”
Deputy Minister of Culture Nerses Ter-Vardanyan, in an interview with us said that according to the information of the Ministry that the rumor for Güler to establish a museum in Yerevan bears no relations with the reality. The deputy minister mentioned that at present, a whole floor at the National Gallery of Armenia is allocated to Ara Güler’s photographs, which the author has donated to Armenia in 2013. “160 photograph are exhibited in different nature and style, including portraits of famous people and panoramas of a number of cities. In the future, when better opportunities are provided, the photographs will be moved to another location. Presently, a whole floor at the main gallery of Armenia is allocated to Ara Güler. I think it should be viewed as a valuation to the photographer.”
