On May 6, within the framework of the events dedicated to the Centennial of the Armenian Genocide, the Quadrilion Art Studio-Gallery of Warsaw hosted the presentation of the book “I Heard the Bulbul Sing” (a book by British writer of Armenian descent Jonathan Hovhannes Ubster and dedicated to the Armenian Genocide), as well as the personal exhibition of book illustrator, young Polish painter and graduate of the Cambridge Art Academy Julia Konechko. The event was held under the patronage of the RA Embassy in Poland, the Armenian Foundation of Poland and Quadrilion Art Studio-Gallery, reports the press service of the RA Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Among those attending the event were RA Ambassador to Poland Edgar Ghazaryan, Venezuela’s Ambassador to Poland, member of the National Council for Regional Organizations of the Radio and Television of Poland, Professor Stefan Pastuska and deputy director of Polish radio, chairperson of the board of the Armenian Foundation of Poland Marta Aktsentovich, member of the Polish-Armenian Chamber of Commerce Machey Bohosevich, representatives of the Polish-Armenian community, as well as well-known Polish and Armenian painters and journalists.

The book was printed in London in Armenian and English and illustrated with the drawings of Julia Konechko. All the drawings are black and white, except for a few. The author has not only shared his childhood memories and stories that he has heard from his ancestors, but has also tried to present the whole truth about the genocide that the Ottoman Empire perpetrated against the Armenians in 1915.

In his welcome speech, RA Ambassador to Poland Edgar Ghazaryan mentioned that the year 2015 is a very significant year for the Armenian people because all Armenians in Armenia and abroad are commemorating the Centennial of the Armenian Genocide. “The Armenian people have always appreciated and express gratitude to the people, individuals and countries that have condemned the Armenian Genocide, have stood by the Armenians’ side and have shared their pain, and this beautiful event is one of the good examples of that.”

The Ambassador’s speech was followed by short speeches by the book’s author and the painter, and the event ended with opera singer Sona Matevosyan’s performance of Komitas’s songs.