ARTINERARY

Armenia exists against the odds. It sits on the geological and civilizational faultlines that bind it to a state of perpetual unrest and becoming. In a world where globalizing homogeneity and extreme polarization generate total alienation and indifference, any place that still produces the necessary tensions for defiance is one to be treasured. And nowhere are those tensions more evident than the contradictorily divergent, mysteriously flourishing and unexpectedly multipolar arena of the local arts.

In a year already marked by war, AI spectacle and cultural absurdity, Vigen Galstyan reflects on exhaustion, nostalgia and the politics of retreat. In this month's Artinerary, he calls on artists and cultural institutions to resist reactionary passivity and to imagine futures shaped by defiance rather than conformity.

As December’s smog dulls Yerevan’s skies and spirits, the city’s cultural life offers a vital escape. In this issue of ARTINERARY, Vigen Galstyan highlights exhibitions, performances and gatherings that cut through the gloom, inviting reflection, connection and moments of light when the capital needs them most.

From daring contemporary art and rediscovered masters to global collaborations and philosophical meditations on home and identity, this issue of Artinerary traces Armenia’s restless cultural pulse. A snapshot of an art scene oscillating between imitation and invention, reverence and rebellion, beauty and critique.

This edition of Artinerary, curated by Vigen Galstyan, navigates Yerevan’s vibrant arts scene, from the rich legacies of Iranian-Armenian photographers and Saroyan’s visual experiments to contemporary solo and group shows, architectural dialogues, and eco-conscious cinema.

A biting reflection on the surreal showdown between Church and State in Armenia, Vigen Galstyan exposes the theatrical extremes of macho posturing—from priest-led coup plots to phallic rhetoric—revealing a deeper societal crisis and the need for cathartic cultural release, all while curating an eclectic itinerary of cultural events across the country.

From Berlin’s well-funded, immersive art scene to Yerevan’s under-resourced yet vibrant efforts, this instalment of “Artinerary” not only presents a calendar of cultural events coming up, but imagines what could emerge if Armenia’s artistic potential were fully supported and politically prioritized.

As AI reshapes creativity and replaces human labor, much contemporary art feels stagnant—recycled, safe and system-bound. A revival, if it comes, will rise from urgent, crisis-driven contexts like Armenia, where meaning still demands to be made. In this edition of ARTINERARY, Vigen Galstyan spotlights exhibitions where artists confront technology, identity, and post-war trauma in works pulsing with transformative promise.

There is clearly something momentous in the air, and I don't mean the aroma of budding apricot trees, the unusual sight of Georgian soccer fans in Yerevan, yet another nasty virus wave, or the municipality's self-righteous campaign of tree annihilation. No, the explosive atmosphere stems from the looming, yet still unlikely “peace deal” with Azerbaijan, whose vague details alternatively suggest a potential new era of stability, or a horrific epilogue to a five-year chronicle of aggression and collective humiliation. Does the art scene reflect this sense of running on the knife's edge?

After a whirlwind year of cultural events in 2024, Armenia enters 2025 with renewed momentum. This edition of ARTINERARY, curated by Vigen Galstyan, highlights the first major exhibitions, festivals and concerts of the year, along with must-see December shows still on view.