The First International Print Biennale, Yerevan 2017 was initiated in 2017 for the first time by KulturDialog Armenien.
Nowadays, producing an art print using digital imaging media is very easy and convenient, while working on a printing plate (cliché) in a traditional technique is rather difficult and time-consuming. Astonishingly enough, some artists avoid the easiness of accessible printing and digital image manipulation and prefer the traditional 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 (engraving, estamp) were first initiated in the second half of the 20th century. Today, there are about 50 exhibition-contests of this kind covering large geographic areas. The number of printmaking forums and its participants is steadily increasing.
The deep interest in printmaking can be easily explained. Unlike painting and sculpture, prints are created on paper and usually have editions, are relatively affordable, and can conveniently be sent by post.
However, 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 exhibition-contests contribute significantly to cultural integration and artistic diversity.
The idea to initiate a periodic international festival dedicated exclusively to printmaking has been conceived for a decade since 2007, when like-minded young graphic artists of the “Art Group” creative team organized the international exhibition “Estampe 2007”. It became a significant event in the cultural life of the country’s capital city.
Since 2013, KulturDialog Armenien has taken ongoing steps to promote the development of printmaking.
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, 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.
KulturDialog Armenien was established in 2012 by art historian Sona Harutyunyan, intending to contribute to the development and promotion of contemporary Armenian art both in Armenia and abroad. The Organization has dedicated almost one-third of its fifty international exhibitions to this unique form of visual art during the five years of operation in various fields of art and culture (fine arts, photography, music, cinema, and so forth), making the prints a top priority of its projects. 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) allowed Armenian graphic artists to be introduced to new international platforms.
On the initiative and efforts of KulturDialog Armenien, 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 Studio of Estonian Artists Union, “Albatross Editions” Offset Lithography Studio /Tallinn, Estonia/, “Druckwerk” Printing House /Basel, Switzerland/). Solo and group exhibitions were organized in several museums and galleries, where Armenian graphic artists were also presented along with their local counterparts.
KulturDialog Armenien realized projects dedicated to the art of printmaking also in Yerevan, presenting this less familiar and unusual branch of fine arts to the Armenian community.
“The Surprised Eye” large-scale exhibition, presenting Estonian contemporary graphic art in 2015 at the Artists Union of Armenia, was a significant event and the result of the close cooperation between KulturDialog Armenien and the Estonian Association of Printmakers. Within the exhibition’s side program, Inga Heamegi, chairwoman of the Board of the Estonian Association of Printmakers, 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.
Due to the projects realized by KulturDialog Armenien during the years 2013 through 2016, the overall image of Armenian printmaking noticeably changed; the awareness and interest in prints and graphic works increased. More young artists started to work in various engraving techniques.
Realizing the importance of printmaking in Armenian art and professional growth of the young artists, considering achievements and potential of the artists working in this field, and summing up the steps taken towards this direction, acquired experience, and present result, KulturDialog Armenien initiated the First International Print Biennale, Yerevan 2017.
By the end of 2015, artists and cultural critics cooperating with 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., Chairwoman of the Board of the Estonian Association of Printmakers /Jury President, Estonia/; Achim Könneke, Head of Cultural Office of the Municipality of Freiburg in Breisgau /Jury Vice President, Germany/; Dr. Alexandra Stäheli, Head of Atelier Mondial - International Arts Exchange Program, Christoph Merian Stiftung in Basel /Switzerland/; Dr. Mateusz Otręba, professor of Graphic Arts at the Academy of Fine Arts in Krakow and board member of the 9th International Print Triennial Society in Krakow /Poland/; Sona Harutyunyan M.A., Founding President of 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 from 76 countries were received.
Results of the first shortlisting for the Biennale were announced on March 1, 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-contest and events of the Biennale were launched.
It is worth mentioning that KulturDialog Armenien realized several new projects in the framework of the First International Print Biennale, Yerevan 2017.
As early as 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 KulturDialog Armenien.
The first participant of the project Arman Vahanyan held a linocut workshop during his six-month artist-in-residence program at the International Culture Festival “Freiburg Stimmt Ein”, Freiburg in Breisgau, Germany.
In June 2016, KulturDialog Armenien and Аtelierhaus Аrlesheim (Аrlesheim, 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 in different years.
Thanks to a strong partnership with cultural institutions of Freiburg in Breisgau, Arman Vahanyan participated in a two-month artist-in-residence program to work in the “Kunsthaus L6” printing studio under the Municipality of Freiburg in Breisgau.
In January 2017, Arman Vahanyan left for Basel, Switzerland as a second-time participant of the Atelier Mondial project. Supported by KulturDialog Armenien, he had the opportunity to work for three months at the Druckwerk printing studio, founded by Swiss artists and print masters Marcel Mayer and Florian Dammayer.
By the end of the project, Arman Vahanyan had a solo exhibition with the title “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 Tallinn, Estonia in 2014. In the meantime, Arman Vahanyan was invited to participate at the “Eindruck” exhibition at the invitation of the board of trustees of “Druckwerk”.
In March 2017, the second exhibition of the “KunstDialog” series was opened, presenting works by Swiss artist Therese Weber and graphic series created in various engraving techniques by Armenian artist Tigran Sahakyan, the second participant of the “Atelier Mondial” international program.
Having cooperated with the “Kurfürst-liches Gärtnerhaus” Urban Gallery, Bonn /Germany/ for the second time, KulturDialog Armenien presented Arman Vahanyan’s retrospective exhibition “Parallel Realities” to the German audience in April 2017. The exhibition featured lithographs, presenting seventeen years of the artist’s creativity.
In July 2017, through KulturDialog Armenien, the co-founder of the Druckwerk Printing House Swiss print-artist Marcel Mayer arrived in Armenia for six months as an artist-in-residence participant of the “Atelier Mondial” International Artists Exchange Program. Series of workshops on printmaking techniques were organized for students and art lovers 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. Along with the creative work, the artist held a series of practical lectures with the Academy students.
In cooperation with the TUMO Centre for Creative Technologies, Yerevan, 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 the printmaking studio in TUMO.
Marcel Mayer held another public workshop on the linocut technique at the Mirzoyan Library in Yerevan.
This and previous projects prompted the need and the idea to establish a print festival in Armenia, thus paving a way for a unique event in Armenia’s art scene.
The First International Print Biennale, Yerevan 2017 was launched in the Armenian Center for Contemporary Experimental Art (ACCEA/NPAK) on October 25.
International jury members, international artists, festival delegations, guests, representatives of state and private institutions, journalists and the general public were present at the opening ceremony of the Biennale in the Armenian Center for Contemporary Experimental Art (ACCEA/NPAK).
The Jury started their work the following day of the exhibition on October 26.
The following prizes were set for the First International Print Biennale, Yerevan 2017 by the Jury:
(The medals were custom made by Armenian sculptor Melik Shahnazaryan.)
12 identical certificates were also established for the 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 the superb artistic and technical quality of the works submitted, additional 15 artists chosen by the Biennale Committee were awarded Certificates of Honour (presented below in alphabetical order):
Contest-exhibition and project events of the First International Print Biennale, Yerevan 2017 continued till December 15, encompassing several cultural centres, educational institutions and galleries of the capital.
On October 26, Brazilian artist and Biennale participant Adriano Castro held a public talk “Brazilian Investment”, presenting latest developments, stylistic trends, subjects and frequently applied technical approaches in Brazilian contemporary printmaking.
On October 27, the Biennale Jury member, Professor of Graphic Arts Dr. Mateusz Otręba 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.
On November 7, KulturDialog Armenien presented Arman Vahanyan’s solo exhibition “The Day’s Surface” to the Biennale guests and Armenian public at the “Dalan Art” gallery.
The solo exhibition “The Timeline Puzzle” of the participant of the “Atelier Mondial” International Artists Exchange Program and Honorary Guest of the First International Print Biennale, Yerevan 2017 Swiss print-artist Marcel Mayer opened in the Armenian Center for Contemporary Experimental Art on November 17. The exhibition featured a series of artworks created in Armenia and during different periods of the artist’s creativity.
During the exhibition, the artist was working on his last monumental print right in the gallery, 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, Yerevan 2017 received widespread acclaim 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, in cooperation with the Goethe Centre in Yerevan, KulturDialog Armenien initiated the “Post Contest Exhibition 2018” project in March 2018, allowing the public 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, in cooperation with the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Armenia, KulturDialog Armenien 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 cooperation was created during the Biennale, among which the first was realized in the summer of 2018.
An agreement was achieved with Margarit Lehmann, one of the organizers of the “Edition Basel” Etching Annual International Project from Basel (Switzerland), who was in Yerevan on the occasion of the Biennale, to include Armenian artists 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 the potential for possible interaction with other art disciplines, and within this context, to increase the interest in this particular art form. In this regard, the Biennale Committee refrains from any subject, media and dimension criteria, providing reasonable creative freedom to artists.
It is fascinating to observe the works of artists from various backgrounds in one exposition, to study peculiarities of artistic vision, traditions and principles developed in several national schools of printmaking, and to differentiate creative expressions and choice of techniques. In this respect, the Biennale develops a unique intercultural dialogue, where up-to-date printing trends applied in Armenian printmaking as well are presented to the international audience.
Simultaneously, 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 promoting their art at an international level. That is why it attracts not only artists and art historians but also art market dealers and private collectors, which may serve as an efficient platform for business relationships. A vast number of applicants testify to the international art community’s growing attention to Yerevan Biennale.
The comprehensive overview of structural diversity of contemporary art trends, the high artistic quality of exhibits, and the range of techniques and broad scope of the Biennale’s programme drew a continuous flow of visitors during the Biennale.
Feedback received from art lovers and especially students of vocational institutions was incredibly empowering. The Biennale served as not only an impetus to improve their printing skills but also to reconsider their artistic vision and broaden their mindset, which is one of the actual achievements of the initiative.
The willingness of most of the artists to include their works in the Biennale collection at the Committee’s suggestion was pleasant and obliging at the same time. Therefore, we express our profound gratitude and guarantee these works, alongside pieces by the prize-winning artists, will become part of the newly formed yet a quite extensive 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 gives an almost complete picture of the festival.
Then, in early 2018, at the invitation of the Biennale Committee, the jury of the Second International Print Biennale, Yerevan 2019 was selected consisting of Dr. Mateusz Otręba, professor of Graphic Arts at the Academy of Fine Arts in Krakow and board member of the 9th International Print Triennial Society in Krakow - International Jury President /Poland/; Margarit Lehmann (Switzerland) -Jury Vice President; International Jury Members - Herbert Maier (Germany); Lian NG (USA); Sona Harutyunyan (Armenia).
The call for applications for The Second International Print Biennale, Yerevan 2019 was announced on September 15, 2018. Within three months, submissions counting 5,000 works by 1227 artists from 76 countries around the world were received.
Results of the first shortlisting for the Biennale were announced on March 1, 2019. The International Jury selected over 400 works by 227 artists from 53 countries that successfully passed the initial round.
The process of accepting, arrangement, retrieving and maintaining of the artworks damaged during mail transportation began. Preparation works of the contest-exhibition and events of the Biennale were launched.
It is worth mentioning that in the framework of the Second International Print Biennale, Yerevan 2019, KulturDialog Armenien also realized exhibitions and projects dedicated to woodcutting, which immediately followed the conclusion of the First International Print Biennale, Yerevan 2017 (see above).
The Second International Print Biennale, Yerevan 2019 was launched at the HayArt Cultural Center of Yerevan Municipality on September 7, 2019 with the participation of the ambassadors of a number of countries in Armenia (Germany, Poland, Switzerland, India, as well as representative of the Embassy of Russian Federation), international organizations (European Union Delegation, Russian Center for Science and Culture in Yerevan (Росгоссотрудничество), Goethe Institute, “Hayastan” All Armenian Fund), representatives and other officials, as well as many other local and international guests, participants and other engraving artists (Toomas Kuusing /Estonia/, Zacharias Arvanitis /Greece/, Tomasz Winiarski /Poland/). The message of the RA President was read out to the Biennale participants and attendees at the opening ceremony. At the invitation of the Biennale Committee, the opening ceremony featured a musical performance by an Austrian musician, handpan player Christian Schratt, who strongly impressed the guests and attendees with his music.
The official opening ceremony of the Biennale was followed by two intensive working days of the International Jury of the Second International Print Biennale, Yerevan 2019. From September 8 to September 9, the Jury Members led by Prof. Dr. Mateusz Otręba started intense discussions and reviewing process of 400 original works by 227 artists. After all, the Jury selected the Second International Print Biennial, Yerevan 2019 prize winners, by open voting.
On September 8, in parallel with the work of the Jury, the First Prize winner of the First International Print Biennale Yerevan, 2017, Polish artist Tomasz Winiarski introduced the "Intaglio printmaking techniques" presentation at the Mirzoyan Library. It featured works of the students of the Academy of Fine Arts in Krakow (Contemporary Polish Printmaking).
On September 9, the Vice President of the International Jury Margarit Lehmann presented the report on “Edition/Basel" of the “Druckwerk” printmaking studio in Basel (Switzerland) at the Mirzoyan Library in Yerevan.
On September 10, the award ceremony of the Second International Print Biennale Yerevan, 2019 took place at HayArt Cultural Center of Yerevan Municipality. Grand Prix /medal/, First Prize /medal/, Second Prize /medal/, Third Prize /medal/ set by the Jury; Special Prizes by “Hayastan” All Armenian Fund and Russian Center of Science and Culture, as well as Diplomas for Honorable Mentions were presented to the following artists:
Grand Prix: Hui Zhang (China)- “Gaze toward the light-2” 2017 First Prize: Sudjarit Rattana (Thailand)- “2 a.m.” 2017 Second Prize: Kzysztof Tomalski (Poland)- “Genesis VI for astrophysicists” 2018 Third Prize: Muanta Supattanawadee (Thailand)- “Gender Bending” 2018
(The prize medals were custom made by Armenian sculptor Edgar Grigoryan).
Honorable Mentions (presented in alphabetical order):
Tingting Chen (China)
Tracy Templeton (USA)
Saeedeh Golriz (Iran)
Jiang Siwei Jiang (China)
Toomas Kuusing (Estonia)
Oliver Pilić (Slovenia)
Wai Wong (Hong Kong)
Akawat Deeto (Thailand)
Brandie Grogan (USA)
Meri Andreasyan (Armenia)
Special Prize by the “Hayastan” All Armenia Fund:
Arman Vahanyan (Armenia)
Special prize by Russian Center of Science and Culture:
Svetlana Ryabova (Russian)
It is worth mentioning that the Second International Print Biennale Yerevan, 2019, along with other collateral events (various exhibitions), continued until December 10. Within the framework of a large-scale international exhibition of various types of printmaking, these programs and events were aimed at maintaining a continuous process of encouraging and creating new impetus for Armenian young engraving artists.
Thus, a ten-day engraving and aquatint graphic techniques Master Class was presented by the renowned German artist Herbert Maier (International Jury Member of the Second International Print Biennale, Yerevan 2019) at Printmaking Studio of National Center of Aesthetics after H. Igityan from December 12 to December 21. Students of the Armenian State Academy of Fine Arts and Armenian artists had the opportunity to get acquainted with these techniques and apply their acquired knowledge and experience in practice by creating their engraving papers.
On September 18, the “Monologue” solo exhibition, featuring graphic works of Samvel Hambardzumyan, was held at the “Sargis Muradyan” Gallery in Yerevan.
On October 3, the group exhibition “As Above, so Below” dedicated to Estonian printmaking was launched at Yerevan Modern Art Museum. It featured 50 artworks performed in various printmaking techniques by 18 artists of Estonian Printmaking Association, “Ubu Noir” Printmaking Studio and Estonian Academy of Fine Art (curator Gudrun Koppel). Inga Heamagi, chairwoman of the Board of the Estonian Association of Printmakers, and artists Luri Koppel and Ingvar Heamagi were present at the opening ceremony.
On October 4, the meeting with Inga Heamagi, the chairwoman of the Board of the Estonian Association of Printmakers and the International Jury President of the First International Print Biennale, Yerevan 2017, was held at Yerevan Modern Art Museum, jointly organized by Eurasia Partnership Foundation and KulturDialog Armenien. The participants got acquainted with trends, patterns and developments of printmaking. Furthermore, Estonian Art Academy, Print Triennial in Tallinn and “Ubu Noir” Printmaking Studio of Tallinn were presented.
From October 5 to November 5, the solo exhibition “Solo on the stage” of the Second Prize winner of the First International Print Biennale, Yerevan 2017, renowned Chinese artist, contemporary printmaking Master Minjie Zhang took place at Saryan House-Museum.
From October 7 to October 17, the Second Prize winner of the First International Print Biennale, Yerevan 2017, renowned Chinese artist, contemporary printmaking Master Minjie Zhang conducted a ten-day Master Class of color woodcut printing at Printmaking Studio of National Center of Aesthetics, located at Saryan 31 address.
On October 12, the Second Prize winner of the First International Print Biennale, Yerevan 2017, renowned Chinese artist, contemporary printmaking Master Minjie Zhang presented a report entitled “Development trends of Printmaking in China” at Printmaking Studio of National Center of Aesthetics located at Saryan 31 address. The report also included a video about the creative path of the artist and China Academy of Art.
From October 25 to November 10, the solo exhibition «Surface. Light. Space» (Contemporary German Printmaking) of the German artist Yurgen Midelmann was held at the «HayArt» Cultural Center in Yerevan.
On October 26, the presentation “Surface. Light. Space”, “Volumes in the Surface: Old Theme – New Formulation” of the German artist Yurgen Midelmann took place at “The Club” café.
From November 2 to December 10, the solo exhibition-performance «Breath.am» was held by French artist Brice Amar – Khodja, the fourth foreign «artist-in-residence» participant of the program organized by KulturDialog Armenien in cooperation with Christoph Merian Stiftung (Atelier Mondial), Basel, Switzerland, and of the Cultural Office of the city of Freiburg in Breisgau, Germany. The exhibition presented works and the project created by the artist during the artist-in-residence stay in Yerevan.
The two-month program featured the main contest-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, master classes in traditional, contemporary and original printmaking techniques led by foreign artists were organized. The works of the First Biennale prize-winning artists Tomasz Winiarski (Poland) and Minjie Zhang (China) were presented to the Armenian audience in individual exhibitions.
From December 7, 2019 to March 7, 2020, KulturDialog Armenien, in pursuit of maintaining continuity of the events in the framework of the Second International Print Biennale, Yerevan 2019, presented a group exhibition under the title «21/9» at “Crumbs” café on December 7, 2019. The exhibition featured 21 woodcut prints made in etching, aquatint, drypoint, mezzotint techniques by Shahane Shahbazyan, Gohar Droshakiryan, Milena Gevorgyan, Manana Makaryan, Arev Farmanyan, Asya Manukyan, Siranush Stepanyan, Elen Azatyan, and Lilit Arzumanyan (student-artists of the State Academy of Fine Arts of Armenia). The prints were created during the Master Class of color woodcut printing by renowned Chinese artist, printmaking Master Minjie Zhang in Yerevan (October 14 to 24, 2019).
It should be noted that KulturDialog Armenien continues putting a big focus on the estamp prints and through the extensive programs offered within the Second International Print Biennale, Yerevan 2019 encourages young Armenian engravers.
Within the framework of these events, the group exhibition entitled “20/4” launched at the Crumbs café in Yerevan on February 22, 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 cooperation of KulturDialog Armenien with “Künstlerstadt Kalbe” International Artist Residency Program started in 2017 in Kalbe, Saxony-Anhalt, students of the State Academy of Fine Arts of Armenia Milena Adamyan and Lilit Minasyan took part in the program’s 6th winter campus from February 25 to March 24. Armenian artists presented their print series at the “Open Studio” weekly exhibition.
Continuing the 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.
Already then, it was evident that a significant number of young artists and students were already among the Armenian artists registered 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 the Armenian cultural scene but also in the extended list of similar international festivals, by occupying a unique niche.
The Second International Print Biennale, Yerevan 2019 was particularly important with the contest-exhibition, as well as solo and group exhibitions of Armenian and non-Armenian artists together with educational programs and masterclasses promoting a variety of different traditional printmaking techniques led by the best international masters in the field.
It should be noted that this time, too, the vast majority of foreign participant-artists expressed joy and willingness at the Committee’s suggestion to include their exclusive works in the Biennale collection. Therefore, we again express our profound gratitude and guarantee these works, alongside pieces by the prize-winning artists, will become part of the extensive Yerevan Biennale Collection.
Launching the Second International Print Biennale, Yerevan 2019 with utter commitment and confidence, we may justly state that the Armenian Biennale dedicated to this refined and versatile form of art is from now on a reality, which, of course, was supposed to find its logical continuation in the future.
For more than four years since the foundation and establishment of the Yerevan International Biennale, which is the first and one of a kind in the contemporary Armenian reality, the Organizing Committee has received congratulations and admiration not only from Armenian and foreign participant artists, world-renowned printmaking masters and International Jury members but also the Organizers of several biennales and similar major festivals in the field of printmaking. Thus, this confirmed the necessity and importance of implementing the Third International Print Biennale, Yerevan 2021.
Based on the above considerations, as well as given the precarious global situation today because of the pandemic, KulturDialog Armenien and the Organizing Committee of the Yerevan International Print Biennale made the difficult decision to announce the launch of the Third International Print Biennale, Yerevan 2021 and prepare for its implementation scheduled for the autumn of 2021.
Thus, on September 15, 2020, the official registration for participation in the Third International Print Biennale, Yerevan 2021 was announced, enabling artists from around the world to submit their applications from September 15 to December 15, 2020.
Once the applications are registered and the photos of the artworks received, the International Jury, consisting of Dr. Mateusz Otręba, professor of Graphic Arts at the Academy of Fine Arts in Krakow and board member of the 9th International Print Triennial Society in Krakow /Poland/; Li Kang, Executive Curator of China Printmaking Museum /China/, Mehdi Darwishi /Iran/ and Sona Harutyunyan M.A., Founding President of KulturDialog Armenien /Armenia/, following the procedure, will start the online work process to select the best artworks to present at the competition stage.
Organizing Committee
Third International Print Biennale, Yerevan 2021
29.09.2020