Soon a Union of the Armenian Carpet Makers will be established, which aims to continue the forgotten traditions of the sphere, to popularize of the carpet weaving art, to create a common platform for the existing carpet makers and scientists, and to present the Armenian carpet in a proper way.
This was told in an interview to Aravot.am by the founding director of “Aria Innovation Technologies” company Viktor Mnatsakanyan, who was also the commissioner of the Armenian pavilion during 54th Venice Biennale. Our interlocutor highlights the creation of the Carpet Museum, an issue that has not been solved for 20 years. According to him, a very strong research team will be formed around the Museum, which will conduct serious researchers and will not allow any foreigners to appropriate the Armenian carpet.
He mentioned the names of two specialists that have seriously contributed to the field – Vahram Tatikyan and Ashkhunj Poghosyan. Viktor Mnatsakanyan says that the largest Armenian carpet market is in Los Angeles and brings an impressive example: the famous American actor, the 38th Governor of California Arnold Schwarzenegger has more than 10 Armenian carpets. Viktor Mnatsakanyan notes, that there are more than 30 carpets presented on the Sotheby’s auction house website, but only 3 of them have the indication that those are Armenian.
He thinks, that during uneasy years of the 90s we have let the field off our hands, while Turkmenistan, Turkey, Azerbaijan have large carpet museums, where tourists are not only mandatorily taken to, but they also have a possibility to acquire one. As for the museum of carpet in Baku, they have spent several millions of dollars on design only. By the way, when in 2008 the foundation stone was laid in the carpet museum of Baku, the event, among others, was attended by UNESCO Director-General Koichiro Matsuura.
Gohar HAKOBYAN
