Tag: Vigen Galstyan

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.

As the world grapples with relentless upheaval and a growing sense of despair, the relevance of art has never been more urgent for even amidst destruction, art can illuminate pathways to renewal. By stepping outside the confines of our panic-ridden newsfeeds, we open ourselves to the transformative potential of creative expression. Art can help us confront the chaos while offering a vital escape—a momentary reprieve to reimagine what the future could hold.

How "sacred" can culture get before it ossifies into an irrelevant artifact and at what point do our interventions with the relics of the past turn from living culture into an act of sacrilege? The only way to answer this question is to be open to and actively engaged with what the artists and art workers are doing at the moment. And right now, in Armenia, they are doing a hell of a lot worth thinking about.

The wounds from the horrific 44 Day War and Artsakh's ethnic cleansing by Azerbaijan are still raw. But one thing is clear: to break the vicious cycle eroding our foundations for over a century, we must embrace a path of collective reflection, healing and renewal. Could art—contemporary and historical—possibly show us the way?

There is nothing like thoughts of war to make one appreciate the extraordinary privilege of getting out on a sunny October weekend and being presented with an infinite array of cultural events in a bustling town like Yerevan. If the past few years have taught us anything, it is not to take these vital pleasures for granted. Tomorrow we may easily be denied that opportunity.

Have you had your "I look so exalted" selfie with Anahit's head yet? No? Well, there is still plenty of time. And despite its lack of world-famous masterpieces, our local institutions and art spaces will continue to strive for more Instagram-worthy backdrops. However, there might also be the occasional show, or a lecture that may provoke you to momentarily forget your phone.

As far as cultural events are concerned, August is generally considered to be the “dead” month of the year. But if you're stuck in Yerevan and the soul does want to escape somewhere else, even for just an hour or so, then some of those events might just prove to be the ticket.

Yerevan's social calendar is ramping up with a torrent of events that will immerse you in all sorts of art if you, well... let it. To help you navigate the vibrant art scene, we're putting together a short bi-weekly digest of the best that the capital has on offer for the art-going public and visitors.