Echo

Artists

Nina Khemchyan

Press release

National Participation - Armenia (Republic of)

At the Biennale Arte 2024 the Armenian National Pavilion will encapsulate concepts drawn from Medieval Armenian cultural heritage and diverse spiritual universal principles, reconsidered in the realm of nowness. The Echo by Nina Khemchyan features two major installations: two profound components related to and fulfilling one another. The central component of the Armenian National Pavilion comprises eleven blue ceramic spheres. Each of these spheres is adorned with golden incrustations, which represent a specific selection of Armenian sharakans, eleven chants of repentance, written by Mesrop Mashtots, the inventor of the Armenian alphabet, philosopher, theologian, priest, and poet. He is a fundamental figure in the history and culture of his country; a spiritual leader, founder of Armenian sacred music. For a long time, Nina Khemchyan has been immersed in Mesrop Mashtots’ work. The physical installation is supplemented by an a capella performance of the hymns by Hasmik Baghdasaryan-Dolukhanyan. 

Commissioner: Svetlana Sahakyan, Head of Modern Art Department, Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports of the Republic of Armenia
Curator: Armen Yesayants