The walls of Calouste Gulbenkian Hall of the “Hayartun” Center at the Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church in Georgia are decorated with line art drawings and oil paintings. Here an interesting and complicated exhibition entitled “Portrait-XXI” has been organized. The Union of Armenian Artists of Georgia (Chairman Meruzhan Shahumyan), under the auspices of the “Hayartun” Center at the Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church in Georgia and in cooperation with several unions of Georgian artists, has implemented it. Almost 80 pieces of art of more than twenty Armenian and Georgian artists are presented. The students of famous painter and teacher - Robert Nersesov’s Art School also participate in the exhibition.

On December 15 the solemn opening of exhibition entitled “Portrait-XXI” with the participation of members of the public, art connoisseurs and experts of different nationalities took place.

Chairman of the Union of Armenian Artists of Georgia Meruzhan Shahumyan welcomed the audience; he named the art of the portrait a complicated creative work, as the artist should portray on canvas the inner world of the individual and personality traits. He expressed his gratitude to the participants and organizers; owing to their efforts that wonderful exhibition was realized.

Poet and translator Givi Shakhnazari, ceramic artist Levon Osipov, painter Giovanni Vepkhvadze and others highly praised the exhibition and appreciated the skills of the participants. They stressed the originality of Tbilisi Art School, as well as presence of realistic portraits and fantastic compositions at the exhibition. It had also been noted that it was not the first exhibition with participation of Armenian and Georgian artists, but it was one of wonderful events, in which Georgian artists participated with great pleasure. This time also many works of Georgian art were presented.

The Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church in Georgia, who was attending the solemn opening of the exhibition, highly appreciated the fact that two or three generations of famous artists were presented at the exhibition. These were works of Boyakhchevs, Vepkhvadze and Manoyans. The paintings of young talented artist Tipukhtsyan, Alina Akhtsentsyan, Gayane Manasyan and others also attracted visitor’s attention. His Grace welcomed the organization of similar exhibitions and the participation of artist in them named the means of artist’s self-expression and self-assertion.

Exhibition “Portrait-XXI” at the “Hayartun” center will run until December 26.