As part of the Aurora Forum, visitors to Tatev Monastery have the opportunity to experience a unique exhibition dedicated to the 150th anniversary of Komitas Vardapet.
September 25, 2019, Yerevan, Armenia. “Komitas: The Pathways of a Genius” temporary exhibition will be displayed for visitors to the Tatev Monastic Complex at the Oil Mill, starting this September.
The exhibition has been organized ahead of the inaugural Aurora Forum, which is being held in Armenia on October 14-21, 2019 as part of the Tatev Revival Program undertaken by the Initiatives for Development of Armenia (IDeA) Foundation. The exhibition was brought together in cooperation with the Komitas Мuseum-Institute.
The exhibition includes photos and documents presenting Komitas and his work in the Caucasus, Europe, the Ottoman Empire and Egypt at various stages of his life and career.
Through the exhibition, visitors to the Tatev Monastery will have the chance to discover more about the life and works of the Great Komitas, one of the seminal figures of modern Armenian classical music.
“It is symbolic that the exhibition will be presented in Tatev Monastery, which, for centuries, has been one of Armenia’s vital spiritual, educational and cultural centers. Komitas was also a great teacher and pedagogue, who spread his knowledge and skills to different parts of the world,” says Hayk Demoyan, curator of the exhibition and doctor of historical sciences.
The exhibition highlights the breadth of Komitas’s travels around the world, and his interactions with Armenian and foreign intellectuals in various cities. The photos show Komitas alongside famous Armenian cultural figures such as Hovhannes Tumanyan, Avetik Isahakyan, Ghazaros Aghayan, Archag Tchobanian, Vrtanes Papazian, Gevorg Bashinjaghian, Ruben Sevak among others.
Photographic materials for the exhibition were provided from the book “Komitas Vardapet (1869-1935)” by Gurgen Gasparyan (2014, Yerevan).
The exhibition dedicated to the 150th anniversary of Komitas Vardapet will also feature many original items such as commemorative medals, books, stamps and postcards.
“Komitas: The Pathways of a Genius” will be open to visitors at Tatev Monastery until the end of the year.
About Aurora Forum
The Aurora Forum is a unique and aspirational forum developed to fulfill humanity’s collective potential and to drive positive action across some of the world’s most pressing humanitarian, technological, scientific, educational, and social challenges.
The Forum will feature activities and discussions and will convene thought leaders and change-makers from across the world to share knowledge, perspective and ideas, which together can deliver practical action and change. The Forum will be held in Armenia from October 14 to 21, 2019. The Aurora Forum’s far-reaching agenda will be driven by partner institutions with a shared commitment to address global challenges and local development. These include: Initiatives for Development of Armenia Foundation (IDeA), Foundation for Armenian Science and Technology (FAST), Aurora Humanitarian Initiative, Scholae Mundi Global Educational Platform, the United World Colleges (UWC) international college in Dilijan, Armenia, and Ameriabank.
The 2019 Aurora Forum coincides with a special moment in Armenia’s history. Last year’s non-violent transition of political power put Armenia in a global spotlight by demonstrating how a nation with an educated workforce and commitment to peaceful means can push for a national change.
The Aurora Forum was co-founded by Vartan Gregorian, Noubar Afeyan and Ruben Vardanyan with the aspiration to become a major arena for global citizens to serve as drivers of change. The Forum is supported by a network of more than 150 Goodwill Ambassadors, a group of global leaders from a broad range of fields including politics, academia, business, entertainment and art, with a shared commitment to tackling some of the most pressing global challenges facing current and future generations.
About “Tatev Revival” program
The main goal of Tatev Revival is the restoration of Tatev Monastery. Included in this objective is the creation of infrastructure around the monastery while respecting its cultural, historical and spiritual significance, as well as the concurrent development of local communities.