P.S. Ida Kar - Armenian "bohemian photographer" at National Portrait Gallery in London

As I mentioned before - YES! Armenian “bohemian photographer who made history” Ida Kar restrospective at the National Portrait Gallery in London - this seemed to be a must see exhibit in London, and it was. Here are few pics I made at the National Portrait Gallery in London. The exhibition is on until 19 June 2011. Don't miss!

*"Return to Armenia": her works for The Tatler magazine after she visited Armenia for the first time since childhood. On this picture, you may also see the caricature of Ida Kar, with Armenian inscriptions, by local Yerevan artist S. Stepanian, 1957 (also below - as a fridge magnet I bought from the National Portrait Gallery shop).

Few more posters from the exhibit.

And this is perhaps her most provocative work on display at the exhibit: 'Mother and Child' (Hanja Kochansky with her daugther Katya Cobham (née Bebb)).

*© National Portrait Gallery, London - Ida Kar, 22 August 1974

Related on Unzipped: Gay Armenia - Ida Kar - Armenian "bohemian photographer"- fashionista

British artist to face jail for mocking Turkey’s PM

I do not agree with those who claim that president or PM, or whoever it is up there, are symbols of the country and should be respected etc etc. In past, such opinions were expressed in Armenian blogosphere here and there. I do not buy such arguments. First, some may be against the institution of e.g. presidency for whatever reason, and it’s their right to do so. Then, artists or ordinary citizen should be able to mock those in power, regardless of their position. I may like it or not, I may agree with them or not, but it’s their right, and if you are in politics, you should expect this, and rather than putting yourself in a ridiculous position of suing for such expressions, you’d rather laugh at or ignore.

Here is a story from Turkey of a British artist who mocked Turkey’s PM portraying Erdogan as the US pet.

*extract from the BBC, below:

Artist fined for art mocking Turkey's prime minister

An English artist has been convicted of mocking Turkey's prime minister by portraying him as a dog in an artwork. Michael Dickinson, 59, originally from County Durham, now faces jail after refusing to pay a fine imposed by a judge in Istanbul. "Good Boy" showed Recep Tayyip Erdogan as a dog with a US flag as his lead. Mr Dickinson said he would not pay the fine as he did not regard what he had done as a crime. Proceedings were adjourned until 9 March.

More...

Yerevan diaries: Seatbelts... and more

I knew, I heard and I read it before, but you have to see it to believe it. The sight of Armenian drivers wearing seatbelts was the most striking change in Yerevan. Who knew that it would be possible to see this day coming? Even though I noticed few drivers not using it, but overwhelming majority does so. Despite stories that some taxi drivers (or those in old cars not having seatbelts) instead of wearing actual seatbelts imitate them, despite the fact that still some in Armenia do not comprehend its safety message in full, my first impressions were that for now at least this policy imposed by Armenian government works. I have to commend for that prime minister Tigran Sargsyan. When praise is due, praise is due.

And to cheer you up even more, this hilarious cartoon with an important 'safety message', via Armenian Comedy.

Cartoon: Tigran Arakelyan and Armenian police. Who knew? :)

Click on this picture to be able to properly read the imaginary but probable 'conversation' between now detained Armenian opposition youth activist Tigran Arakelyan and representatives of Armenian police, if we believe police account of the events, that is.


*source (via @himaarmenia)

'The bear is back' (cartoons)

Cartoonists have returned to the theme of the Russian bear as the Georgian crisis unfolded. Cartoonist Dave Brown created this for the Independent newspaper. (BBC)

The bear is such a powerful symbol - such great visual shorthand - that you only need to depict it with a shadow, Kal explains. Drawn for the latest edition of The Economist. (BBC)