Armenia will be properly presented in Venice Biennale this year: Aravot

From 1995 on Armenia has been participating in the international Venice Biennale which was founded in 1895. Up to now the Armenian modern art has been presented through the programs curated by the Armenian Center for Contemporary Experimental Art (NPAK). Armenia is preparing for the 54th Biennale in a new way, writes local Armenian daily Aravot (Morning), adding that the commissary of Armenia's pavilion in this Biennale will be supervised by Victor Mnatsakanyan, Head of Staff and Chief Advisor to the Chairman of the National Assembly of Armenia.

Talking to the paper Mr Mnatsakanyan said that the face of Armenia's pavilion will be shaped not arbitrarily, but rather through efforts of experts, the best minds of the modern art both in Armenia and abroad, so that Armenia will duly represent itself to the world so that our conceptual mind will be able to be competitive in abroad.

Further he assured the newspaper that only serious sums of money won't be enough, and therefore support will be provided by the National Assembly of Armenia, by Yerevan City Hall, Minister of Culture Hasmik Poghosyan and generally by all the people who are concerned about Armenia's cultural rating. So, for the first time, there will be an artistic board, strong curator's team, a relevant fund, and the proposals by all artists and art critics active on the field will be taken into account.

"In so far as Armenia's participation in the Biennale and the organization of the Armenian pavilion assumes serious sums of money, we tried to find out the amount. Our interlocutor said that it is around $200,000 USD; talks are being held to occupy a place in an authoritative area, like Giardini or Arsenal or to be as close to them as possible. More than 20 million people attend the Biennale, and if half of that visit the Armenian pavilion, as Mnatsakanyan says, [and if] Armenia's name and face appear in serious cultural magazines and publications, our country will appear in a favorable situation" writes Aravot, adding that in mid August the name of the curator of Armenia's pavilion will be known, the curator's group established, the face of Armenia's pavilion outlined.

The Armenian pavilion will be presented also in Armenia.