Yoko Ono's "petition for peace", MoMA, NYC

A very diverse, and very current exhibit in MoMA, NYC, of Yoko Ono's works and performances.

Most of the works on display were from 60s but themes touched there, such as gender inequality, human rights, anti-war/for peace movements, are as current, as ever... Powerful stuff.

*Film No. 4, "petition for peace" against gender inequality and war

*"War is Over!", by Yoko Ono and John Lennon

*"Cut Piece" performance by Yoko Ono

*"Touch Poem for Group of People"

*"Bag Piece" performance

*"Apple"

Arcade Fire rock band + Google Chrome interactive video project “The Wilderness Downtown”. Yerevan experience

The Independent: "On August 30, rock band Arcade Fire, together with Google and artist Chris Milk, launched an interactive video set to the band's track "We Used to Wait." Called "The Wilderness Downtown," the online project makes use of Google Maps and Google Street View to incorporate images of the viewer's hometown into the video. Viewers begin the experience by providing their childhood address. The video experience then unfolds in multiple windows, taking viewers on a tour of their hometown to the tune of the Arcade Fire track. Users can also write a note to their younger selves in a tree branch-inspired font that is incorporated into the video. "The Wilderness Downtown" is optimized for Google Chrome and should also run on any browser that supports HTML5."
***

It worked great with my London address. Unfortunately, when I tried submitting Yerevan or more specific addresses in Armenia, the following notice came up: “Your address doesn't contain enough Street-View and/or Google Maps data to 100% enjoy this experience.”

Still, you may click this link to see The Wilderness Downtown project’s Yerevan experience: http://www.thewildernessdowntown.com/#Yerevan,+Armenia

Or go to the website http://www.thewildernessdowntown.com and try playing with addresses and cities yourself.

You will have a chance to make postcards too. I did not have much time and made a simple one but from my heart :)

For more info about the project, visit http://www.chromeexperiments.com/arcadefire Overall, pretty fun experience. Enjoy!

First ladies of Latvia and Armenia at the Cafesjian Centre for the Arts in Yerevan

The Cafesjian Centre for the Arts reports that first ladies of Latvia, Mrs. Lilita Zatlere, and Armenia, Mrs. Rita Sargsyan, toured the Centre’s exhibition galleries on 11 December 2009.

Ara Darzi and Larry Gagosian among London's 1000 most influential people in 2009

London's Evening Standard puiblished its list of 1000 most influential people in Britain's capital in 2009. At least two of them, prominent representatives of medical profession and art, are of Armenian origin.


Lord Darzi - Imperial College, professor of surgery
Shocked Westminster by quitting as health minister and “GOAT” — member of Gordon Brown's government of all the talents. Darzi wanted to return to his first love, surgery, which he performs while listening to Pink Floyd. (read also - here)

Larry Gagosian - Art dealer
Legendary Manhattan art figure who launched two galleries in King's Cross and Mayfair in past five years. Now spending more time back in Big Apple, he still has fingers in London market. Has been dubbed “the art world's greatest businessman”. (read also - here)

*pictures - via Evening Standard and BBC

Yerevan diaries: Cascade - Cafesjian Centre for the Arts

After 2 years delay, with construction works still going on as per these pictures I took a month ago, Cafesjian Centre for the Arts (Yerevan MoMA) will have its Grand Opening on 8 Nov (fireworks display 7 Nov). Cascade has always been a favourite place for Yerevantsi and tourists alike. Soon to be opened Yerevan MoMA will make the place even more definite must see not only in Armenia, but in the whole South Caucasus too.

Yerevan diaries: NPAK - "Soviet party" (by Edgar Amroyan)

Leave a message... for God

Who needs churches if you have 'God's Hotline' :)

This is my favourite part: ...the voicemail message says: "This is the voice of God, I am not able to speak to you at the moment, but please leave a message."

BBC reports: An art exhibition opening in the Netherlands will allow people to call a telephone number designated for God - but they will have to leave a message.

Dubbed God's Hotline, it aims to focus attention on changes to the ways Dutch people perceive religion.

Dutch artist Johan van der Dong chose a mobile phone number to show that God was available anywhere and anytime, Radio Netherlands reported.

Critics say the project mocks those with religious beliefs.

Forming part of an art installation in the town of Groningen, the voicemail message says: "This is the voice of God, I am not able to speak to you at the moment, but please leave a message."

Secret messages

Although the hotline is officially launched on Saturday, the phone number has been active for the past week, with 1,000 messages left on the answerphone.

But the messages are to remain confidential and will not form part of the art project.

Van der Dong told Radio Netherlands: "I'm not a pastor, I'm an artist and I won't listen to the messages.

"It's a secret between the Lord and the people who are calling."

Exhibition spokeswoman Susanna Groot said there was no intention to offend anyone.

"In earlier times you would go to a church to say a prayer and now [this is an] opportunity to just make a phone call and say your prayer in a modern way."

Instead, the aim is to provoke debate about the priorities of modern life.

The phone line will remain open for the next six months.

"Armenia 2008"

by Albert Babelyan, Armenian Center for Contemporary Experimental Art (NPAK)

(taken from the Undercurrent Shifts project currently on display)

Larry Gagosian - 2nd most powerful man in art world in 2007

Larry Gagosian topped the annual list compiled by Art Review magazine in 2004. Back then Art Review called him "the world's greatest art businessman." Since then Gagosian remained on the 2nd place in annual power rankings. He is the world famous art dealer of Armenian origin. He has galleries in NY, LA and London.

2007 Art Review Power 100

(with last year's ranking in brackets)

01. François Pinault (1) - French billionnaire; owns Christie's auction house

02. Larry Gagosian (2) - art dealer, US

03. Sir Nicholas Serota (3) - director of Tate galleries, UK

More...

*picture via BBC

Arts review Yerevan: Michael De Marsche unveiled as director of Cafesjian Museum of Modern Art in Yerevan

In what has been described by some as “shocking news”, it was announced today that well known and highly successful Michael De Marsche resigned as director of the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center to become the new director of the Gerald L. Cafesjian Museum Foundation in Yerevan.

*Michael De Marsche (picture by The Gazette)

It’s interesting and very indicative - the way this news presented here:

“In what has got to be described as shocking news, Michael De Marsche resigned as director of the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center on August 9, just seven days after the new David Owen Tryba-designed wing was unveiled.

Even more shocking is why: He’s becoming the new director of the Gerald L. Cafesjian Museum Foundation in Yerevan, Armenia! I couldn’t make this stuff up.

Yerevan, by the way, is the capital of the country, and the foundation, established by entrepreneur Cafesjian, is currently constructing a huge new cultural facility that will serve as a permanent home for his extensive collection of modern art as well as a venue for traveling exhibitions. "

As a huge fan and admirer of modern art, I am very excited with this news and the fact that very soon, hopefully by the end of year or so, as initially planned, Cafesjian Museum of Modern Art – Yerevan MoMA, will open its doors to public. This will enable Yerevan to rival London’s Tate Modern, New York’s MoMa and others, and establish our capital as a major cultural destination. It will host Cafesjian’s permanent art collection, comprising of works in glass by internationally known artists Stanislav Libenski and Yaroslava Brichtova, paintings by Joan Miro, Pablo Picasso and Marc Chagall, and the distinctive sculptures of Fernando Botero, as well as influential traveling exhibitions. The arts centre will include open air cinema, decorative pool, sculpture park, and public spaces for arts education, seminars and discussions. At last, our capital will be put on the map of major modern art centres in the world and current church-filled image of our country will hopefully get much anticipated other dimensions. Here is a hint to people who are behind tourism industry and promotional travel clips of Armenia – no more churches, please!

For background info, read articles by ArmeniaNow here and here

As part of Cafesjian Museum of Modern Art, Yerevan has already became home to a number of fascinating works by world famous contemporary artists (source of pictures - ArmeniaNow and Cafesjian Museum Foundation):

Fernando Botero "Cat"

Fernando Botero "Roman Warrior"

Barry Flanagan "Hare on Bell"

Barry Flanagan "Acrobats"

Stanislav Libensky / Yaroslava Brichtova "Open Window"

Lynn Chadwick "Sitting Forms"

Lynn Chadwick "Stairway"

Arts review London: Warhol vs Banksy

If you happened to be in London, the coolest weekend opening is Warhol vs Banksy exhibition at intimate The Hospital venue in London Covent Garden. I was there today and enjoyed it in full. Highly recommend it. I never thought or realised before that Andy Warhol has had such an influence on Banksy, so this exhibit was quite a revelation for me.

Here is just one example: Kate Moss (2005) by Banksy vs. Merilyn (1967) by Warhol:

There are more and better works by both artists at The Hospital; the exhibition is from 10th of August until 1st of September.

I’ve seen many of Andy Warhol’s works, but Double Exposure self-portrait was a discovery for me today - it's just fantastic, really, really. I wish I could buy at least a poster of it but nothing was on sale.

From The Hospital press release:

“A face to face show of classic drawings and paintings by Andy Warhol set against the infamous graffiti work of Banksy. The Hospital Gallery is delighted to present Warhol Vs Banksy; the first exhibition anywhere by the world’s two hottest artists today. Campbell’s or Tesco? Grace Kelly, Muhammad Ali, Winston Churchill, Mick Jagger, Queen Elizabeth, The Beatles, Smiley Man police statue, Andy Warhol himself and others make for a potent cocktail of celebrity, satire and voyeurism. Upon contact opposing pictures are explosive for their contrast, even of the same subject.”

'Live art' behind the windows

or this is one of the reasons why I love London

I was walking down the road, it was pretty much routine walk, actually I am wrong - nothing can be too 'routine' in London. For no reason I turned around and noticed... behind the big street-side windows of the building there was 'live art' exhibition going on. And it did not matter whether I liked it or not, whether I understood it or not... it was unexpected, never boring, creative in its own way, a small reflection of life in this exciting city in otherwise unexceptional Thursday evening.

This reminded me the following piece from Channel4 TV:

Beware
Live Art

You're walking down the road when you see a bundle of rags and boxes dumped on the pavement. Then you notice an arm sticking out of it. Do you:

• hurry on by?
• call 999?
• kick the arm and giggle?

Now you can take a bow: you have just been part of Tom Geoghegan's performance artwork Rubbish. Geoghegan performs around London in a number of sinister guises, holding a steady pose for hours at a time. He may suspend himself from the side of a tower block or hang from a tree.

Live art, aka performance art, tends to involve the unexpected. Other than that it's hard to define. It may have elements in common with performance arts such as experimental drama or dance, but it moves beyond the conventions and usual boundaries of these other genres.

More info about live art here