By: Gayané Kortian – Student Intern Armenia Media

The Opening Ceremony of the 11th Biennial Art and Photography Exhibition took place on Friday the 30^th of June, organised by Australian Armenian Art Advisory Council of Hamazkaine Armenian Cultural and Eduational Association. The exhibition, which was held at the Armenian Cultural Centre in Willoughby, showcased countless artworks entered by many artists. The entries included paintings, drawings, photographs and even a film. The exhibition was a success with close to 100 people attending the opening night.

The Bienniel Art and Photography Exhibition “plays an integral part in the Armenian community in Australia by keeping arts alive in our small diaspora...” said Robert Srjararian, Art and Marketing Director for the Arts Council. Visual artist Shake’ Vartanian and many more Arts Council members coordinated the 11^th Biennial Exhibition.

The art exhibition was open for three days, from Friday the 30^th of June until Sunday the 2^nd of July. Art Council member, Eddie Vesmadian, addressing the attendees on the night, acknowledged and thanked the sponsors of the 11^th Biennial and shared his thoughts about the importance of the exhibition and the significance of the theme, which was set as Futurism. This theme was set “to reflect the growing youth and continuous development in Armenia and the Armenian Community,” he said on Friday.

The special guests for the Exhibition Opening were Willoughby Councillor Judith Rutherford and Mr Rutherford, long-standing friends of the Sydney Armenian Community.  Councillor Rutherford noted the close ties between the Sydney Armenian Community and Willoughby Council spanning many decades and congratulated  the Australian Armenian Art Advisory Council of Hamazkaine for another outstanding Biennial Exhibition.

The Exhibition included different categories, being painting, drawing, mixed media, sculpture, B&W photography, colour photography and the youth category, which included participants aged 13-19.  The winners in each category are set out below:

Painting:

1^st Prize: Polette Arzoomanian

2^nd Prize: Petros Hovaghimian for “Transforms”

3^rd Prize: Polette Arzoomanian

Highly Commended: Ashot Karapetian

Mixed Media:

1^st Prize: Ida Arakel for “Pomegranate”

2^nd Prize: Petros Hovaghimian for “Sacred Heart”

3^rd Prize: Ida Arakel for “Sunflowers”

Highly Commended: Henrik Mikaelian for “Untitled”

Drawing:

1^st Prize: Pollette Arzoomanian for “Land Series”

2^nd Prize: Shakeh Vartanian for “Stolen Generation

3^rd Prize: Tamar Nazarian for “Trchel Mdkov Doon (calligraphy)”

Highly Commended: Areen Serj Simonian for “Epicerie”

Black & White Photography:

1^st Prize: Robert Sejararian for “Denisa Nude No 1 & 2

2^nd Prize: Robert Sejararian for “Runaway Bride”

3^rd Prize: Jacob Majarian for “Filtered Shades”

Highly Commended: Eddie Vesmadian for “Man’s Bestfriend”

Colour Photography:

1^st Prize: Robert Serjararian for “My Religion”

2^nd Prize: Robert Serjararian for “Misha, Duduk Player”

3^rd Prize: Roger C McCampbell

Highly Commended: Ani Danelian for “Dreamscapes”

Sculpture:

1^st Prize: Berj Ohanessian for “Groongner”

2^nd Prize: Gorgi Armen

3^rd Prize: Gorgi Armen

Youth:

1^st Prize: Natasha Hollen for “Home”

2^nd Prize: Carlo Bezekian for “Melody of the Night”

3^rd Prize: Areni Kortian for “Geometry No 1”

Highly Commended: Alek Simonian for “Inperfectus”

Highly Commended: Marine Anoushian for “Syria”