Scholar George Bournoutian and the AGBU Armeniaca Exhibit Bring Groundbreaking Research to Paris

The AGBU Alex Manoogian Cultural Center Hosts Stops for Two International Tours

The AGBU Alex Manoogian Cultural Center in Paris has become an important destination this fall, with several events highlighting both the Armenian people’s long-standing presence in Karabakh and Armenian architecture’s lasting influence across Europe.

On Friday, September 21, 2012, renowned historian Dr. George Bournoutian presented his latest book, “The 1823 Russian Survey of the Karabakh Province: A Primary Source on the Demography and Economy of Karabakh in the Early 19th Century,” at an event hosted by the AGBU Paris Chapter and presented by AGBU Nubarian Library director Raymond Kevorkian. The Nagorno Karabakh Republic representative to France, Hovhannes Guevorkian, was among the lecture’s scores of attendees. Commanding the attention of each guest, Dr. Bournoutian reviewed a range of historical texts that have long filled university classrooms and libraries across Canada, Europe and the U.S. – yet omit critical references to Karabakh’s Armenian population in the 1800’s. Dr. Bournoutian dedicated several years to mining archives, obtaining rare copies of surveys dating back to 1822. Contrary to the prevailing literature, he explained, Armenians did, indeed, comprise the overwhelming majority in the region during that period. His findings fill a significant void of information on Karabakh’s demographics prior to 1828. Dr. Bournoutian has been able to bring his groundbreaking work to audiences not only in Paris, but in the USA and Canada, as well, through his AGBU-sponsored book tour. Already a year in the making, the tour will continue in 2013.

The AGBU Armeniaca initiative, which showed in Paris from Wednesday, September 26 to Wednesday, October 10, 2012, is also receiving international attention. Before its debut in France, the exhibit “Armeniaca: Pioneers of the Study of Armenian Architectural Heritage” drew crowds in Brussels, Milan, Venice and Yerevan. Each visit was organized with the support of the European Commission’s “Culture 2007-2013” program, which aims to foster intercultural dialogue. Audiences at every location were introduced to the exhibit’s interactive website and comprehensive database, which includes over 250,000 scanned documents, drawings, maps, monographs, photographs and scientific studies – an invaluable resource that preserves and digitalizes Armenian architectural heritage. The Paris launch, which was under the high patronage of His Excellency Viguen Tchitetchian, the Armenian Ambassador to France, was attended by over 100 guests, including Archbishop Norvan Zakarian, Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church in France, AGBU France Chairman Philippe Panossian and AGBU France leaders. In his welcoming remarks, Mr. Panossian commented, “This exhibit brings to the French public, for the very first time, the extraordinary stories of pioneering scholars and architects who braved the odds to rediscover, study, and safeguard ancient Armenian architecture.” The AGBU Armeniaca exhibition will continue to publicize those stories in the months to come: it will visit Lyon in February 2013 and Valence in September 2013. For more information please visit: http://en.agbueurope.org/armeniaca/

The Paris Chapter also welcomed guests on Tuesday, November 20, 2012, for the conference “Armenian Art Treasures Saved from the Genocide,” which was led by Yerevan State University art history professor and UNESCO Chair of Armenian Art History Levon Chookaszian. The exciting lineup of events continues this Friday, December 7, 2012, when the center will host a presentation of Zavèn Bibérian’s latest book, “Le Crépuscules des Fourmis” (The Twilight of the Ants), which will be led by its translator Hervé Georgelin. Together, each event is introducing a wealth of historical accounts to the city’s academics, students and broader public.