"No, Gracias!" Levon Tokmajyan will stay and work in Yerevan

Armenian sculptor Levon Tokmajyan was granted a Golden Key prize for his The Progress of Globalization in a biennale titled "20th Century: Globalization" and held from July 15-24 in Chako, Argentine.

Speaking about the biennale in a press conference today Mr Tokmajyan said sculptors from 50 countries attended it.

Mr Tokmajyan participated in the landmark event with his son, Vahe Tokmajyan, who lives in Canada.

"Father and son we showed up side by side, presenting two countries," said he adding that his son presented Canada, while he presented Armenia.

Vahe Tokmajyan was awarded Public Sympathy prize.

Further Mr Tokmajyan said he was awarded a title of honorary citizen of Chako, a city in Argentine, and in response he sang an Armenian song during a dinner served to his honor.

When the Mayor of Chako proposed him to stay and work there the Armenian sculptor answered with the only phrase he knew in Spanish: "No, gracias!"

"By being in various countries we feel as Armenia's ambassadors of culture," said he, adding that he was awarded different prizes in different countries, while in Yerevan, where he has many works, he still needs recognition.