"While Armenia has long been recognized for its rich and storied historical art and culture, the country's contemporary art scene is emerging as one to watch on a global scale. Armenian artists stand out for their ability to synthesize their own cultural heritage with avant-garde approaches to contemporary artmaking, bridging tradition with self-expression. Paralleling broader rising critical and market interest and investment in regions outside of the West, ARAR Gallery of Utrecht, the Netherlands, is at the forefront of Armenian art's mounting international presence."
"Though ARAR's mission centers on platforming and promoting Armenian art, the strength of its programming lies in its commitment to positioning it in dialogue with-rather than insular from-larger global conversations around contemporary art. "We are not presenting Armenian art as an isolated category," said gallery founder Ashot Khalafyan. "These artists belong to the international conversation. Our role is to create continuity, visibility, and long-term infrastructure.""
"Among the painters shown, Hasmik Khalafyan takes the traditional floral still life as a starting point and imbues a sense of emotional resonance through her experimental use of color and style. Originally from Armenia and currently based in the Netherlands, her work echoes both traditional Armenian decoration and Dutch Golden Age painting. Another painter, Anahit Mirijanyan, employs highly stylized figuration to create sumptuous vignettes that tap into themes of mythology, sensuality, and emotional experience."
Armenia's contemporary art scene blends rich cultural heritage with avant-garde approaches, creating work that bridges tradition and self-expression. ARAR Gallery in Utrecht champions Armenian art on the international stage, aligning rising critical and market interest in regions outside the West. The gallery positions Armenian artists within global contemporary art conversations rather than presenting them as an isolated category. Programming spans media and styles, from Hasmik Khalafyan's experimental floral still lifes that echo Armenian decoration and Dutch Golden Age painting to Anahit Mirijanyan's mythic, sensual figurative vignettes. Painters Sergey Khachatryan and Tigran Vardikyan contribute abstracted landscapes and fantastical narratives. The gallery also showcases photography.
Read at Artnet News
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