Events / Exhibitions

26.11.2022 - 10.12.2022

Sargis Muradyan. My Komitas

Painter Sargis Muradyan (1927–2007) is one of the prominent representatives of Armenian fine art
of the second half of the 20 th century. His art was a new phenomenon, a breath of fresh air and an
attempt to re-evaluate the national origins.
 
Celebrating the artist's 95 th birth anniversary and highlighting his contribution to Armenian art, the
National Gallery of Armenia presents the comprehensive exhibition of S. Muradyan's canvases and
their sketches dedicated to Komitas. These key works were not only breakthrough for the author, but
they also left a remarkable trace in the history of Armenian painting.
 
The artist's early creative period coincided with the national awakening during 1950’s-60’s and gave
new impulse to the artist. Muradyan was among the first ones to touch upon the historical past of the
Armenian people and the Great Genocide in those years. The national theme was reflected in the
picture of Komitas as a collective image of the entire Armenian intellectuals. Many of the painters of
the older generation depicted Komitas, but for the first time the image of the great composer was
considered in the context of the genocide in S. Muradyan's painting ''Komitas. The Last Night''
 
(1956). This pivotal work could be taken as the starting point of the artist's creative path. It brought
great recognition to the artist, became the visiting card of Soviet-Armenian art and one of the pearls
of the National Gallery. Throughout his creative path S. Muradyan regularly painted the image of
Komitas (''Komitas and Hovhannes Hovhannisyan in Etchmiadzin'', 1957, ''Komitas and Hovhannes
Hovhannisyan Talking to the Peasants'', 1957, ''Komitas. The year 1915, April'', 1965, ''Antuni'',
1969). The artist portrayed him allegorically and conventionally, with a new expressive means of
painting, in a generalized way, he documented the spirit of the time, without any narrative and
description, until the Sumgait massacres. The work ''Golgotha of Armenian Intellectuals'' (1975-1988) is a vivid manifestation of it, it is a step towards the preservation of the national identity.
The exhibition includes also the tactile replica of the canvas ''Komitas. The Last Night'', made for
visually impaired people. The canvas has recently been exhibited in the Gallery within the inclusive
project “Talking Canvases”.
 
Exhibition curator
Margarita KHACHATRYAN
 

Permanent
exhibition

Hovnatanyan Hakob Mkrtum

The Portrait of Natalia Teumian (1830-40-ական թթ.)

canvas, oil
36x28,5 cm