The First International Print Biennale, Yerevan 2017 was initiated in 2017 for the first time by KulturDialog Armenien.
Nowadays, producing an art print by means of digital imaging media is very easy and convenient, while working on a printing plate in a traditional technique is rather difficult and time-consuming. Astonishingly enough, some artists avoid the easiness of digital image manipulation and accessible printing and prefer arduous process of dealing with poisonous acids, hazardous solvents, messy and sticky oil based printing inks. Perhaps the essence and the beauty of the art of printmaking are hidden in those long lasting and troublesome processes.
International exhibition-contests dedicated to the art of printmaking and its techniques were first organized in the second half of the 20th century. Today, there are about 50 exhibition-contests of this kind covering large geographic areas. Number of participants of printmaking forums are steadily increasing.
Great interest in printmaking is easily explained. Unlike painting and sculpture, prints are created on paper, they normally have edition, are relatively affordable and can be easily sent by post.
Consequently, artworks shown at these events have not been created only by graphic artists and thus present a broad and varied panorama of artistic ideas. This way, current trends in this branch of fine arts can be observed more comprehensively and thanks to its reoccurrence, information is updated regularly. Additionally, these events contribute significantly to cultural integration and artistic diversity.
The idea to initiate an international biennale dedicated exclusively to prints was conceived 10 years ago in 2007, when a group of young graphic artists of the “Art Group” united their efforts in organizing the international exhibition “Estampe 2007”, which became a major event in the cultural life of the country’s capital city.
Since 2013, Foundation KulturDialog Armenien has taken important steps to promote the development of printmaking.
Foundation KulturDialog Armenien contributed to such development in Armenia with numerous initiatives and projects, providing Armenian artists with the possibility to grow, to develop their skills and to get in contact with current international trends and its representatives. Printmaking played a significant role within the course of Armenian art, and today it is of great importance for artists working in this field. For these reasons, Foundation KulturDialog Armenien deems the time right to bring together the artists’ potential, their achievements, their experience with the various steps which have been taken so far in Armenia.
The Foundation KulturDialog Armenien, established in 2012 by art historian Sona Harutyunyan with the aim to contribute to the development and promotion of contemporary Armenian art both in Armenia and abroad. The Foundation has dedicated almost one third of its fifty international exhibitions to this form of visual art during the five years of operation in the field of arts and culture (visual arts, photography, music, cinema, and so forth), thus making the prints a top priority of the Foundation’s projects.
As a result of established dialogue and cooperation with state and private institutions, galleries and art studios in several European cities (Bonn, Halle, Freiburg, Germany; Tallinn, Estonia; Arlesheim, Basel, Switzerland) Armenian graphic artists were given the opportunity to be introduced to new international platforms.
On the initiative and efforts of the Foundation KulturDialog, numerous long-term projects were launched, enabling the Armenian artists to practice both traditional and contemporary techniques of printmaking in fully equipped printing studios (“Burggiebichenstein” Fine Arts Academy Printing Studios /Halle, Germany/, “Kunsthaus L6” Printing Studio /Freiburg, Germany/, Engraving Studion of Artists Union of Estonia, “Albatross Editions” Offset Lithograrphy Studio /Tallinn, Estonia/, “Druckwerk” Printing House /Basel, Switzerland/).
In several museums and galleries solo and group exhibitions were organised, where Armenian graphic artists were also presented along with their local counterparts. The Foundation KulturDialog Armenien realized projects dedicated to the art of printmaking also in Yerevan, presenting this less familiar branch of fine arts to the Armenian community.
The large scale exhibition “The Surprised Eye”, presenting Estonian graphic art at the Artists Union of Armenia in 2015, was a major event and the result of the close cooperation between Foundation KulturDialog Armenien and the Estonian Association of Graphic Artists. Within the exhibition’s side program, Inga Heamegi, Head of the Estonian Association of Graphic Artists, presented her extensive report “The Estonian Art Printing. Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow”. Also, a master class dedicated to the technique of woodcutting (xylography) was organized and held by the Estonian artist Tarrvi Laamann.
During the years 2013-2016, a number of projects realized by Foundation KulturDialog Armenien, the overall image of Armenian printmaking has noticeably changed; the awareness of prints and graphic works has increased. More young artists started to work in various engraving techniques.
Realizing the importance of establishment of printmaking in Armenian art and professional growth of young artists, given the achievements and potential of the artists working in this field and considering the steps taken towards this direction, acquired experience and present result, the Foundation KulturDialog Armenien initiated the First International Print Biennale Yerevan 2017.
By the end of 2015, artists and culturologists of the Foundation KulturDialog Armenien formed a committee. The concept, conditions and schedule of the Biennale were developed, dissemination of information and invitation was launched. Networks were established with likewise art festivals, professional institutions, unions, printing houses, galleries, printed and electronic art journals and individual artists.
The jury members of the First International Print Biennale Yerevan 2017 were selected by the invitation of the Biennale committee, consisting of Inga Heamägi M.A., President of Estonian Association of Graphic Artists /jury president, Estonia/, Achim Könneke, Head of Cultural Office of the Municipality of Freiburg im Breisgau /jury vice president, Germany/, Dr. Alexandra Stäheli, Head of Atelier Mondial - International Arts Exchange Program, Christoph Merian Stiftung in Basel /Switzerland/, Mateusz Otręba, professor of Graphic Arts at the Academy of Fine Arts Krakow and board member of 9th International Print Triennial Society in Krakow /Poland/ and Sona Harutyunyan M.A., Founding President of the Foundation KulturDialog Armenien /Armenia/.
The call for applications for the First International Print Biennale Yerevan 2017 was announced on 15 September, 2016. During three months, submissions were received from 76 countries counting 3230 works by 955 artists.
Results of the first shortlisting for the Biennale were announced on 1 March, 2017. The international jury selected 447 works by 227 artists from 50 countries that successfully passed the initial round.
The process of receiving, arrangement, restoration and conservation of artworks damaged during transportation started. Preparation works of the exhibition and events of the Beinnale were launched.
It is worth mentioning that the Foundation KulturDialog Armenien realized a number of new projects in the framework of the First International Print Biennale Yerevan 2017.
In January 2016, in the framework of Atelier Mondial - International Arts Exchange Program a new cultural dialogue was established between Basel, Freiburg and Yerevan on the initiative of the Foundation KulturDialog Armenien.
The first participant of the project Arman Vahanyan held a linocut workshop during his six-month artist-in-residence programme at the International Culture Festival “Freiburg Stimmt Ein”, Freiburg in Breisgau, Germany.
In June 2016, the Foundation KulturDialog Armenien and Аtelierhaus Аrlesheim, (Basel-County), Switzerland initiated a series of annual exhibitions “KunstDialog”. A joint exhibition of the Armenian artist Arman Vahanyan and Swiss artist Therese Weber opened at “a.a.1 KulturRaum Arlesheim”. Arman Vahanyan presented his prints created during various years.
Thanks to strong cooperation with cultural institutions of Freiburg in Breisgau, Arman Vahanyan participated in a two-month artist-in-residence programme to work in “Kunsthaus L6” studio next to the Municipality of Freiburg in Breisgau.
In January 2017, Arman Vahanyan left for Basel, Switzerland as a second-time particpant of the Atelier Mondial project. Supported by the Foundation KulturDialog Armenien, he had the opportunity to work for three months at the “Druckwerk” printing studio, founded by Swiss artists amd print masters Marcel Mayer and Florian Dammayer.
By the end of the project, Arman Vahanyan had a solo exhibition “Every Day’s Surface” at the Salon Mondial Gallery, where he presented prints created in Freiburg and Basel, as well as linocuts, woodcuts and offset lithographs he created in 2014 in Tallinn, Estonia. In the meantime, Arman Vahanyan was invited to participate at the “Eindruck” exhibition, organized by the board of trustees of “Druckwerk”.
In March 2017, the second exhibition of the “KunstDialog” series was opened at “a.a.1 Kulturraum Arlesheim”, presenting works by the Swiss artist Therese Weber and graphic works by Armenian artist Tigran Sahakyan, the second participant of the “Atelier Mondial” international project.
The Foundation KulturDialog Armenien cooperated with the “Kurfürst-liches Gärtnerhaus” Urban Gallery, Bonn /Germany/ for the second time, and in April 2017, Arman Vahanyan’s retrospective exhibition “Parallel Realities” was presented to German audience. The exhibition featured lithographs, presenting seventeen years of the artist’s creativity.
In July 2017, Swiss print master, co-founder of the “Druckwerk” Printing House and “Atelier Mondial” artist-in-residence Marcel Mayer arrived in Armenia for a six-month period. Series of workshops on printmaking techniques for students and art lovers was organized during the artist’s stay in Yerevan.
In September-November, Marcel Mayer had an opportunity to work in the printmaking studio of the State Academy of Fine Arts of Armenia. During his residency, the artist held series of lectures with the Academy students.
In cooperation with the TUMO Centre for Creatives Technologies, Yerevan, the Foundation KulturDialog Armenien realized two long-term workshops on printmaking techniques for TUMO kids and students from art institutes led by the Swiss artist, which resulted in the establishment of printmaking studio in TUMO.
Marcel Mayer held another public workshop on the linocut technique at Mirzoyan Library in Yerevan.
Similar projects prompted the need to establish a print festival in Armenia, thus paving a way for a unique event in Armenia’s art scene. First International Print Biennale Yerevan 2017 was launched on October 25 in the Armenian Center for Contemporary Experimental Art (ACCEA/NPAK), where the main exhibition of the Biennale was officially opened in presence of the international jury members, international artists, festival delegations, guests, representatives of state and private institutions, journalists and general public.
The jury started their work on October 26, the following day of the exhibition.
The following prizes were awarded for the First International Print Biennale Yerevan 2017 by the jury.
(The medals were custom made by Armenian sculptor Melik Shahnazaryan.)
12 homonious certificates were provisioned for best works.
On October 28, the award ceremony took place at the Armenian Center for Contemporary Experimental Art. After a two-day intense discussions and selection process, the international jury announced the names of the First International Print Biennale Yerevan 2017 winners.
Grand Prix: Darina Peeva /Bulgaria/
First Prize: Tomasz Winiarski /Poland/
Second Prize: Minjie Zhang /China/
Third Prize: Arman Vahanyan /Armenia/
During the selection, two additional prizes were awarded by the jury:
Special Jury Prize: Ulrich Wolf /Germany/
Special Prize by jury member Prof. Dr. Mateusz Otręba: Gudrun Heamägi /Estonia/
Following artists (presented in alphabetical order) received Honorable Mention Diplomas:
Taking into account superb artistic and technical quality of the works submitted, additional 15 artists chosen by the jury were awarded Certificates of Honor (presented below in alphabetical order):
Competition exhibition and project events of the First International Print Biennale 2017 Yerevan continued till December 15 encompassing several cultural centres, educational institutions and galleries of the capital.
On October 26, Adriano Castro, Brazilian artist and biennale participant held a public talk “Brazilian Investment” presenting latest developments, stylistic trends, subjects and frequently applied technical approaches in contemporary Brazilian printmaking.
On October 27, the Biennale jury member, Professor of Graphic Arts, Doctor Mateusz Otreba read a comprehensive analytical essay “Who is He, Jerzy Panek from Krakow?” on the life and creativity of famous Polish painter and printmaker Jerzy Panek at the TUMO Centre for Creative Technologies in Yerevan.
On October 29, the results of the workshops led by Swiss graphic artist Marcel Mayer were presented at the Mirzoyan Library, featuring works created by the students of the workshops.
The KulturDialogue Foundation presented Arman Vahanyan’s personal exhibition “The Day’s Surface” to the Biennale guests and Armenian public at “Dalan Art” gallery on November 7.
The exhibition featured selected prints created in Basel, Tallinn and Freiburg from the “The Day’s Surface” exhibition he had in Switzerland earlier that year.
“The Mosaic of Time” solo exhibition of Swiss print master, “Atelier Mondial” project artist-in-residence and honorary guest of the First International Print Biennale 2017 Yerevan Marcel Mayer opened on November 17 in the Armenian Center for Contemporary Experimental Art. The exhibition featured series of artworks created in Armenia and during different periods of the artist’s creativity.
During the exhibition, the artist was working in the gallery on his last monumental print, which became a unique open workshop for the visitors, communicating them the whole creative process - from making the metal plate to making a finished print.
The First International Print Biennale 2017 Yerevan received widespread accalim among Armenian art lovers. Students and artists’ interest was especially valuable. They visited exhibitions, participated in lectures and master classes from different cities of Armenia.
Considering such great interest, the Foundation KulturDialog Armenien in cooperation with the Goethe Centre in Yerevan, initiated the “Post Contest Exhibition 2018” project in March 2018, giving the public an opportunity to refamiliarize with the works of prize winners of the First International Print Biennale Yerevan 2017.
In October 2018, in the framework of the 17th Summit of Francophonie in Yerevan, the Foundation KulturDialog Armenien in cooperation with the RA Ministry of Culture presented the “Book and Wine” exhibition dedicated to centuries-old friendship and intercultural ties between Armenia and France.
Along with museum objects and archive materials presented at the exhibition, prints by French artists of the First International Print Biennale Yerevan 2017 were shown as a token of present-day cultural relations.
Different new international cooperations were created during the Biennale, among which the first was realized in the summer of 2018.
On the occasion of the Biennale, an agreement was achieved with Margarit Lehmann, organizer of “Edition Basel” Etching Annual International Project from Basel (Switzerland) to include Armenian artsts in the project. Hasmik Sngryan and Arman Vahanyan were the first Armenian artists to participate in the project happening annually through two consecutive meetings. Artists from all over the world worked jointly in classical, original and experimental techniques at “Druckwerk” printing studio. The results of the twelve-day workshops were shown at Kaskadenkondensator Basel Gallery and Basler Papiermuhle Museum.
The First International Print Biennale Yerevan 2017 indeed served as a new international platform for printmakers.
The initiative is one of a kind in the region for its format, content and goals. The main goals of the Biennale are to study trends and current developments in the field of printmaking, to consider means of combining classical, now rarely applied techniques and cutting-edge ideas, to reveal potential for possible interaction with other art disciplines and within this context, to increase the interest in this pecular art form. In this regard, the Biennale Committee refrains from any subject, media and dimension criteria, providing reasonable creative freedom to artists.
It is interesting to observe the works of different artists from different backgrounds, to study peculiarities of artistic vision, traditions and principles developed in different national schools of printmaking and to differentiate artistic expressions and choice of techniques. In this respect, the Biennale creates a unique intercultural dialogue, where up-to-date printing trends applied also in Armenian printmaking are presented to international audience.
At the same time, the Biennale is an opportunity for printmakers to communicate with each other; it is a platform to exchange experience and creative ideas as well as a chance of self-promotion on an international level. That is why it attracts not only artists and art historians, but also art market dealers and collectors, which at the same time may serve as an efficient network platform. Large number of applicants testifies to international art community’s growing attention to Yerevan Biennale.
Comprehensive overview of structural diversity of contemporary art trends, high artistic quality of exhibits, wide range of techniques and broad scope of the Biennale’s programme drew a continuous flow of visitors during the Biennale.
Feedback received from artlovers and art students were truly empowering. The Biennale was not only an impetus to improve their printing skills but also to reconsider their artistic vision and broaden their mindset, which in fact is the true achievement of the initiative.
The willingness of most of artists to include their works in the Biennale collection at the Committee’s suggestion was both delightful and obliging. Therefore, we express our deep gratitude and guarantee that these works, alongside pieces by the prize-winning artists, will become part of the newly formed yet quite rich Yerevan Biennale Collection.
It is with great joy that we announce the publication of a comprehensive catalogue of the First International Print Biennale Yerevan 2017, which fully reflects its essence.
The Foundation KulturDialog Armenien continues to put a big focus on the estampe prints and through the programmes offered within the Second International Print Biennale Yerevan 2019 encourages young Armenian engravers.
Within its framework, the “20/4” group exhibition opened in the Crumbs café in Yerevan on 22 February 2019, featuring works by Mary Andreasyan, Ani Nersisyan, Hasmik Sngryan and Edgar Soghomonyan, students of the State Academy of Fine Arts of Armenia and National University of Architecture and Construction of Armenia.
Through the Foundation KulturDialog Armenien’s cooperation with “Künstlerstadt Kalbe” international artist residency programme started in 2017 in Kalbe town, Saxony-Anhalt, students of the State Academy of Fine Arts of Armenia Milena Adamyan and Lilit Minasyan took part in the programme’s 6th winter campus from February 25 to March 24. Armenian artists presented their print series at the “Open Studio” weekly exhibition.
Continuing exhibition series at the Crumbs café, works by students of the State Academy of Fine Arts of Armenia Asya Manukyan, Siranush Stepanyan and Arev Farmanyan were presented at the “20/3” exhibition on June 20.
It is worth mentioning that a large number of young Armenian artists and students have applied for the Second International Print Biennale Yerevan 2019.
Ultimately, we would like to proudly mention that Yerevan Biennale has indeed become a significant event not only for Armenian cultural scene, but also in the long list of similar international festivals, by occupying a special niche.
By judging the results, considering experience acheieved and new ideas, we strive to make the next Biennale more remarkable and diversify its programmes. The two-month programme will feature the main exhibition along with a series of collateral events providing theoretical and practical skills and promoting the diversity of graphic arts. Lectures, talks, presentations, as well as solo and group exhibitions of Armenian and guest artists, masterclasses in traditional, contemporary and original printmaking techniques led by foreign artists will be organized. The winners of the First Biennale Tomasz Winiarski /Poland/ and Minjie Zhang /China/ will be presented through special exhibitions.
Today, we launch the Second International Print Biennale Yerevan 2019 with more commitment and confidence, to acknowledge that the Armenian Biennale dedicated to this refined and versatile art form is from now on a reality.
23.07.2019