Under the Patronage of the Armenian Genocide Centennial Central Committee of Lebanon, the Hamazkayin Art Gallery launched the exhibition of renowned artist Lucy Tutunjian on April 9th, 2015 at 6:30pm. 

The opening ceremony was attended by Lebanese Diocese Bishop Shahe Panossian, official dignitaries, MP Hagop Pakradounian, chair of the Armenian Genocide Centennial Central Committee of Lebanon Seta Khedeshian, former minister Raymond Audi, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Armenia Ashod Kotcharian, many artists, and a large crowd of art lovers.

Nazeli Avakian, spoke in the name of the Armenian Genocide Centennial Central Committee of Lebanon. After greeting the attendees, she highlighted the artistic and character-related qualities of artist Lucy Tutunjian. She said, “Lucy Tutunjian is not only an artist, she’s the godmother of the Hamazkayin Art Gallery.”

Avakian highly praised the artist’s initiative to donate all the proceeds of this exhibition to the Armenian Genocide Centennial Commemoration Central Committee of Lebanon. She said, “The Turks tried to exterminate the Armenian people, to destroy the culture, but failed; today’s exhibition is proof of that.”

In his word, Hamazkayin Art Gallery director Hagop Havatian said, “Lucy Tutunjian is a phenomenon in our collective life, and we have many exemplary lessons to learn from her.” He added, “We need infectious idols for our young generations, and today, this should be an example for our future generations to respect and feel ready to continue their work.”

Havatian stated that this exhibition was organized for a noble cause and at the dusk of the Armenian Genocide Centennial which already is evidence that the enemy had failed to suspend our cultural procession, and hadn’t hinder its development, prosperity and internationalization. The enemy couldn’t condemn us to enduring hunger and suffering, on the contrary, the people who settle in these countries quickly came out of their suffering and succeeded in proving their existence and ensuring the reestablishment of their lives. Therefore today’s event is also a true expression of the hope of survival and determination.

Lucy Tutunjian expressed her heartfelt thanks to everyone attending the event and promised to meet again in other occasions.

She said, “When I work, I am in a different world, I feel familiar with my surrounding and time passes in joy, until I realize that I have to rest.”

Through her art that transfers her inner world, Lucy Tutunjian demonstrates the feelings of an entire people. In her impressive oil paintings, we find the Armenian, the man in all his forms. There we find the child, the woman, the mother, the sweet native home… life in its freshness and bitterness.

Her work depicts the Armenian agony, love, longing, care, and hope resurrected from ruins and terrors.

The exhibition continues till April 16, every day except Sunday from 9:30 am till 7pm.

All proceeds of the exhibition will go to the Armenian Genocide Centennial Central Committee of Lebanon.