International Pottery Symposium “BrutArt” kicked off in the Naregatsi Art Institute Shօushi Center

Naregatsi Art Institute Shօushi Center hosted the opening ceremony of the first ever International Pottery Symposium “BrutArt” held in Artsakh. Among the participants are potters from Artsakh and the RA.

The students of the Center welcomed the guests with traditional Armenian songs and dances. Under the sounds of qanun and violin the children presented the history of Shoushi and the origin of pottery through the clay statues.

Father Andreas Tavadian opened the event with his blessing and the Lord’s Prayer. He mentioned in his speech that he had been with the Center since its opening, expressing his gratitude to the Hartounians’ family, Nareg Hartounian for the establishment and development of such a center of art.
The potters will keep working in the Center for 15 days and master classes will be held in the second half of the day. The main theme of one of the works is Shoushi, the rest of the themes are free.

– The Ministry of Culture is highly interested in the preservation and development of national arts and crafts. We decided to contribute to the implementation of this beautiful symposium. We have always implemented activities aimed at the development of pottery in Shoushi, and the result of those years work is the opening of this wonderful pottery. We hope that this project will be further expanded in the coming years, and more participants from around the world will be involved, – said Minister of Culture, Youth Affairs and Tourism of the Republic of Artsakh Sergei Shahverdyan.

The works created within the framework of the International Pottery Symposium will give the participants a broader opportunity to express themselves especially in the sphere of sculpture.

Appropriate materias – clay for various technological fields and high temperatures, as well as electronic and wooden ovens to bake the clay will be provided to the participants for creating the works. The selected works will be exhibited for a long time in the Shoushi State Fine Arts Museum and of Naregatsi Art Institute Shoushi Center.

– I just fell in love with pottery. I am grateful to the devoted people, through whose efforts this symposium is being carried out. All this is the result of love, and I am sure it will be continuous. Our doors are always open for such initiatives, – said Nareg Hartounian, founder of the Naregatsi Art Institute, in his welcoming speech.

After the opening ceremony, pianist, composer Lucy Khanyan presented works with ethno-experimental items, by combining incompatible styles and applying unusual elements.

Symposium participants:
Hrachya Hambardzumyan – Yerevan
Gevorg Mshetsi-Javrushyan – Yerevan
Vazgen Gevorgyan – Gyumri
Gor Parsamyan – Vanadzor
Hunanyan Jivan – Yerevan
Hripsime Grigoryan – Yerevan
Robert Askaryan –Stepanakert
Serob Mamunts – Martakert
Nana Manucharyan – Yerevan