Hye Sharzhoom Armenian Action
Arshak Abelyan
Staff Writer
The perspectives of two artists on war and violence are expressed in the works of Armenian artists Varaz Samuelian and Henrik Abedian, who are featured in an exhibition on “The Business of Regret: War, Chaos, and the Rejection of Violence.”
The exhibition is a collaboration between the Center for Creativity and the Arts (CCA), the Armenian Studies Program, the Department of Art & Design, and the M Street Graduate studios. The art will be on view through the end of October at the M Street Graduate Studios at 1419 M Street in Fresno.
Students and faculty par-ticipated in an “Artist Talk” on Wednesday, October 3 which preceded the formal opening of the exhibition on October 4. The “Artist Talk” featured artist Henrik Abedian and Armenian Studies Program Coordinator Prof. Barlow Der Mugrdechian, speaking about Varaz Samuelian. The panel was moderated by CCA director Dr. Cindy Urrutia.
Prof. Der Mugrdechian opened the evening with a discussion of the late Varaz Samuelian’s art and the inspiration behind it.
Many of Samuelian’s work, especially his lithographs, express his strong opposition to war. Samuelian was the child of Genocide survivors and he was also a veteran of World War II, where he served time in a Nazi prisoner-of-war camp. When he was captured during World War II, he witnessed the mass execution of the Jewish people which is also portrayed in some of his art. These experiences became the basis of the works in this exhibition. But Samuelian also chose to emphasize life in his art, especially in his oil works, which are also on display. The bright oils are in stark contrast to the black and white lithographs.
“I want to open a conversation through art,” said Abedian. A veteran of the Iran-Iraq war, Abedian experienced first-hand the horrors of war, and its impact is felt throughout his art. Abedian takes photographs of ordinary weapons of violence, such as guns and hand grenades, and transforms them into works of art, thereby making them less violent and taking away their power to instill fear.
The opening reception for the exhibition took place at the M Street Graduate Studios on Thursday, October 4, as part of the Fresno Art Hop. Works by Abedian and Samuelian are intersecting with each other on the walls, engendering a conversation between the artists and the viewer.
Abedian draws inspiration from diverse artists such as Andy Warhol and Michelangelo and uses digital means to produce his art. One such example is called, “What Would Warhol Do?” Abedian includes a photo of Marilyn Monroe with one of Warhol’s quotes, “I like boring things.”
The exhibition was truly about showing how people can use objects that we associate with war and make something good out of it. It is an opportunity that only a few get the chance to see. The art represented not only Armenian history, but also connected to the history of the entire world.