Success Unscripted
The serendipitous story of Silva Basmajian’s brilliant career in documentary films
Image
March 25, 2015
AGBU Aleppo’s Mardiros Sarian Academy Celebrates its 60th Anniversary
-
Image
In February 2015, AGBU Aleppo’s Mardiros Sarian Academy organized a three-day exhibition titled “Aleppo: Troublesome Days” to showcase drawings and paintings by the academy’s students. -
Image
The exhibition was organized to mark the 60th anniversary of the academy’s establishment and took place at the National Center of Aesthetics in Yerevan.
Students showcase their work at an exhibit entitled “Aleppo: Troublesome Days” in Yerevan
In February 2015, AGBU Aleppo’s Mardiros Sarian Academy organized a three-day exhibition titled “Aleppo: Troublesome Days” to showcase drawings and paintings by the academy’s students. The exhibition was organized to mark the 60th anniversary of the academy’s establishment and took place at the National Center of Aesthetics in Yerevan.
Organized jointly by the Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU), the Ministry of Diaspora of the Republic of Armenia and the Syrian Armenian Relief Coordination Center, the exhibition attracted students and teachers as well as government ministers including Hranush Hakobyan, minister of diaspora. In her welcome speech, Hakobyan expressed gratitude to Hrazdan Tokmajian, the director of the Mardiros Sarian Academy who had left Armenia for Aleppo twenty years earlier.
At the opening of the exhibit, Tokmajian was awarded the Ministry of Diaspora’s Arshile Gorky Medal for his work in disseminating Armenian art abroad and for his contribution to the development of Armenia-diaspora relations.
The Ministry of Diaspora also announced the forthcoming publication of a book that compiles the artwork of the Aleppo Armenian children featured in the exhibition. “These young Aleppo Armenian artists are fifth generation Armenians, who are being forced to flee like their ancestors a century ago. They are so happy to have their work displayed, and of course, to have the chance to be covered by Armenian television,” said Hakobyan.
During the event, Hagop Mikayelian, chairman of AGBU Aleppo, explained the history of the academy. Founded in 1955, it has continued to hold classes despite the upheaval and social unrest in Aleppo in part to create a sense of normalcy for the children.
Levon Igitian, director of the National Center of Aesthetics, sees the exhibition as a testament to the perseverance of the Aleppo Armenian community: “I don’t know of another nation that would continue to create under such difficult circumstances. It is an element that is deserving of tremendous respect.”
Please note that archived content may appear distorted as it has been stripped of formatting and original images.
