Yerevan Biennial Art Foundation releases a statement on the current crisis in the region
In response to the current crisis originating in the Nagorno-Karabakh region and in respect of the victims of the conflict and their families, the Yerevan Biennial Art Foundation has decided to cancel the scheduled launch events of its Digital Biennial. We are mourning in particular civilian casualties.
In these tragic circumstances, after much discussion, we decided to unceremoniously make accessible to the public the first chapter of the 2020-2021 Yerevan Biennial. The Digital Biennial is now online. If only symbolically, it is important to be present and show our humanity. We strongly believe that art, culture, education, and heritage play a vital role in the life of a country. In fact, they express the very essence of a people, as well as their intellectual vitality and uniqueness. Without art, culture, education, and heritage, our collective and individual identity is lost and the logic of war prevails.
We hope to resume further activity as soon as possible. Meanwhile, we pray for the de-escalation of the conflict and safety of the people. As UN-Secretary, António Guterres, recently stated: “To silence the guns, we must raise the voices for peace.”
Yerevan, September 29, 2020