For a person who self-expresses through art the bottom-line is freedom. This thought is incessantly emphasized in various contexts by a professor of the Beautiful Arts Academy of Naples, theorist of art Francesco Gallo, who has arrived in Armenia on these days with a very beautiful purpose. He wishes to hold an exhibition of pieces of Minas Avetisyan in Italy, which is perpetuated in the wealth of art. Minas has long ago started to be unique art representative for us, Armenians. Minas, who had been adhered to his fatherland Minas was able to speak about many things, scream and hint by using the language of arts. Avetisyan follows the national traditions in painting, yet he never resorts to slavish imitation or stylization. But he shows great freedom and originality in his use of means of expression found in the work of ancient miniaturists: bright sonorous colors, coordination of pictorial tension throughout the entire surface of the canvas, rhythmic arrangement of lines, the static quality of representation, and the absence of perspective. And this is quite natural: like any artist of great talent, Avetisyan has achieved an understanding of reality not so much through the study of the work of other masters, as through his own perception and interpretation of life. According to Francesco Gallo, art should be presented purely, namely, through painting and sculpture, to be followed by means of contemporary art – design, architecture solutions, and the launch will be Minas Avetisyan exhibition. According to Gallo Art is a very sensitive topic to be contacted with directly, just as with your wife, your child, that is to say, the contact should be physical, not through books, through films. The Italian society should be able to see and touch the Armenian art. According to Francesco Gallo, this is why Minas Avetisyan artist has been chosen to represent the Armenian art, since besides being a high value in the Armenian art, he is not a history but our contemporary. Due to this exhibition, we are willing to represent not only cultural values, but also scientific ones. “Minas Avetisyan will enter Italy through Roman gates and will continue into Naples, Venice, Florence,” Gallo said. Gallo told that he had first met Armenia in the years of his childhood because his house is located in the vicinity of the Armenian Grigor Lusavorich church in Naples. The meeting of Minas and Italy was brought in reality during the conference dedicated to Arshil Gorky and one of the organizers was an Armenian living in Italy, famous architect, Gallo’s friend Vigen Avetisyan. It became a peculiar bridge between fine arts and our ministry of culture. According to Gallo:
-The art has a sensitive feature; therefore it’s important that people have an opportunity to communicate “live” with art. When communicating with any piece of art one should treat it like a friend or a family friend. It’s impossible to socialize with art only through books. One needs a direct communication. Individuals are needed to solicit communication between art and people. Traditionalism is obstruction of the art history. And obstruction is very dangerous because the creative spirit may be lost, which always moves the history forward. In order to exhibit the Armenian arts in Italy we have decided to choose Minas because he is a bright example of “liveliness” and no matter in what epoch he lived in he would be our time artist. Minas is one of the painters whose art will never stop and he has a value of future. In his presentations there is a strong state of sole and modern spirit. Now it’s necessary to conduct serious scientific research and analyze his legacy and journalistic research. We should also collect all kinds of materials related to his tragic death. I am sure that there should be a permanent museum of Minas in Yerevan because he is currently presented in a wrong way. The masterpieces of Minas exhibited in the National Gallery combined with the pieces of other artists. This doesn’t allow the viewer to delve into his art. In general, Minas is exhibited with ill-built expositions. The most terrible exposition is in the modern art museum.
– What mechanisms are efficient for differentiating the valuable and the valueless? Can the art bodies of the state or council implement this function?
– There should always be a platform, where it would be possible to see and evaluate pieces of art. None of the state bodies can submit such a role. This function and role can only be submitted by the market. I have many pieces about markets of art and think that the formation of a free market is crucial. The market is the place where all the human interrelations are clearly seen – kind and evil, good and bad. The free market cleans and filters the good and bad. The free market reveals the art. No state body or council can do what the free market can do in terms if filtering the quality and demand. The state shouldn’t impede the free market. I can say that the art market is born and formed in the most unexpected venues and spots. Sometimes you can see a beautiful flower grown among parasites and on badlands. And the task of the market is to reveal such flowers. Of course the art markets are created only in free societies because only in free societies will it be possible to identify individuals. The market doesn’t alloy everyone but emphasizes the individuals.
– But Minas was born during the totalitarian period, where there was no word about freedom.
– The Soviet Union was equalizing all the nations and no matter you are Armenian, Russian or Georgian. You should have been a person from soviet. But Minas was an exception, whose life proved that there can always be exceptions in life. Minas has never touched to political issues or socialistic matters. He was beyond the stereotypes of his time. He was creating art but his internal freedom, which is delivered to us through his canvasses, allows fixing that he will always stay a contemporary artist. The objective of the art is to seek the truth but it got nothing to do with time. I, for example, consider myself the contemporary artists of the times of Fidias and Polyctes.
– Our current life (doesn’t matter you are Armenian or any other nation) gains more outlines of show business. Can the fine art speak in the language of shows and glamour and benefit from it?
– I think that show business may help art because the format of the shows opens up great opportunities for art. The purpose of the art is to create a link with the society and so does the show business. And the glamour methods can become one of those contacts. The more the variety of contact methods is the faster the best pieces will outstand because in any sector there is the principle of a “filter. The bad is filtered and valuable pieces remain. And the values become understandable and visible only due to competition. Only a decent market is needed. It means that the number of independent galleries and museums should increase. The former of the art is the market because it creates variety. It resembles the work of the chorus where everybody is an individual and only the combination creates quality. Great French Volter said, “I don’t share you opinion but am willing to sacrifice my life so that you express your opinion and say what you wish to say. I think this is the most accurate description of freedom, which works in friendly, partnership and abstract thought.” That’s who art markets are formed.
– Do you mean internal or legislative freedom?
– The freedom should be an internal and external fact. If freedom is only within you and it doesn’t exist outside it means you live in the conditions of dictatorship. And when the opposite happens and you don’t feel free then you become a loss for the society.
– After spending several days in Armenia how do you estimate the way our society feels? Have you noticed a demand for art?
– The society of Armenia is on the way of freedom. And it’s noticeable that this path is very hard to cross. And when it stays behind the Armenian society will feel a surprising progress and strength. Yesterday I spoke with Armenian businessmen and noticed that they look great; they are diligent, optimistically look at the future, respect other opinions and creative thoughts. And the creative thought speaks of the demand of art.
– As a theorist-diagnostician as well as a doctor of art to what extent do you signify the general opinion of the society? They speak a lot about the slump of art in our country.
– I think that this theme is unfading. For example, I have spoken about the taste of people with my friends Gianni Versace and Armani, who have been grandiose creators not only in the fashion world but also in other sectors. I am sure that fashion creates interesting contacts as it is also a branch of art. It forms the taste of people, their style, and elegance. I am sure that when speaking of the public taste it is important to pay attention to the style, which the majority forms and start to depict creative approaches in this sector.
– What gives grounds for positive thoughts in our country? What’s good ere?
– Your ancient architecture and architectural motives is astounding. For example, the first thing that the visitors of Armenia see is your airport, which creates a beautiful link between Armenia and the rest of the world. I have spoken with archaeologists and got convinced that these people work not only physically but also put their spirit in it. It means that people are slowly approaches their roots of art and history. The wealth of Armenia is the people and they slowly start to realize the value of their potential.
– Can pride not originate in emptiness?
– Pride is never inappropriate. It is not dangerous either when you realize that by loving your art you don’t hate the art of others. Pride is one of the ways of being free.