The National Gallery of Armenia will be opening an exhibition showcasing Jean Kazanjian’s works on May 2^nd at 15:00. During his years in Paris, Jean Kazanjian hasn’t had a specific form of expression and hasn’t been part of any artistic movement. He chose his own way of seeing things.

After settling in Southern California, Kazanjian combines Surrealism and pop-culture.

The tremendous “Pille ou face” (Writing or Eagle) painting is composed of three pannos, each of which has three parts, and together they form a whole. That integrity represents a part of the universe with four elements, including wind, water, earth and fire. The visions of the dancers make one think of the transience of human values, and the work is in progress.

In his “poster-paintings” Kazanjian creates an interesting scene through the penetration of shades and contours. Starting in the 1990s, the artist started posting transparent wallpapers nearly 1.5 inches away from the painting. As you look at the painting up close, you can notice that the wallpaper portrays the image of the painting, and when we focus on the two images, we gradually start perceiving the image through the other side, with the other and between each other.

The works showcased at the exhibition identify the various layers of Kazanjian’s work, starting from 3D “wallpaper-pictures” and ending with more formal paintings and etches done on copper. The gallery will showcase more than 50 works, including pictures of the city and Armenian themes such as the series of Arshil Gorky’s portraits, the series of paintings devoted to migration, as well as reflections on some iconic works, including Leonardo da Vinci’s “Tiding” or Michelangelo’s “Pieta”.

Jean Kazanjian’s exhibition will run from May 2^nd to the 27^th.

Department of Public Relations of the National Gallery of Armenia