The Armenian Cultural Association Hamazkayin “Oshagan” organised an exhibition of Armenian Cypriot artists at the Utudjian Hall of the Armenian Prelature of Cyprus, Nicosia, under the auspices of the Armenian Representative, Mr Vartkes Mahdessian. The exhibition was open between 6-8 March 2009.
Twenty four Armenian Cypriot artists of all ages proudly exhibited 88 works in total. The themes varied, ranging from paintings, 
mosaics, mirrors and photographs to articles of clothing, jewellery, carpets, chairs, pillows, silk works, wood works, patchworks and charms. This plethora of exhibits reminded us that art is so much more than just painting. The most sentimental piece was made by Tatiana Ferahian from Limassol, a time capsule with bone remains from Genocide martyrs, brought to Cyprus by her mother in 2005 from the Der Zor desert, a powerful reminder of the atrocities the Armenian nation endured in the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th centuries, yet it managed to survive, thrive and prosper.
Other Armenian themes included four wooden khachkars (cross-stones), created by Aris Utujian, four of Artin Anmahouni’s paintings (new Sourp Asdvadzadzin church, the Magaravank in Pendadhaktylos, Noravank, and Ararat), all three of well-known John Guevherian’s paintings (Victoria street, the old Sourp Asdvadzadzin church, and Noravank Monastery), the Ayp Pen Kim (the Armenian alphabet, by Shoghik Arakelian) and the Garmiravor church, by Manoug Mangaldjian. The famous artist Vartan Tashdjian, who was also a speaker at the exhibition, chose to display only one theme: the Melkonian. In his seven paintings we were able to see the various buildings and yards of the Melkonian, whose memory must never fade away and the fight for its re-opening must never cease.
As previously mentioned, there were many forms of art and many types of painting approaches. Perhaps the most traditionally Cypriot paintings were those of Therese Kasparian-Petrides, one of which was painted on a traditional old wooden door.
On behalf of all who had the opportunity to visit the exhibition, I would like to say a big “thank you” to Hamazkayin “Oshagan”, for organising this lovely event, and to all the artists (the ones mentioned, plus Knar Kabaradjian, Veronica Mahdessian, Sevan Malikyan, Lili Meguerditchian, Alice Nadjarian, Nouritz Nadjarian, Aznive Papazian, Anahid Sarkissian, Lucy Shahinian, Talin Tashdjian-Chalikian, Nanor Tashdjian-Gauci, Garcia Tellalian, Hourig Torossian, Hapeth Touloumdjian, Albert Voskeritchian and Sebouh Voskeritchian), for giving us such a splendid sight. Let us hope events like this will be organised more often in Cyprus.
Alexander-Michael Hadjilyra
