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PRESS RELEASE

Embassy of the Republic of Armenia
Contact: Nouneh Zastoukhova
2225 R Street, NW,
Washington, DC, 20008
Tel: 202 319 1976
Fax: 202 319 2982
Email: armpr@speakeasy.net


June 4, 2002

On May 31st, 2002 an exhibition by a young and talented Armenian artist from Venice, Italy, Koko Garabet (Krikor Garabet Sakayan) opened at the Embassy of the Republic of Armenia in Washington, DC. The Armenian Ambassador to the U.S., Dr. Arman Kirakossian and the artist himself had speeches during the opening ceremony.

Welcoming everyone, Ambassador Kirakossian introduced the artist. Born in Lebanon Koko Garabet received his primary professional education in Beirut, at "Toros Roslin" Academy of Fine Arts. In 1993 he moved to Italy and entered the Venice Academy of Fine Arts, which he later graduated with high honors upon defending his paper work "Analysis of Arshile Gorky".

In 1998 he won the second prize at the 8th "Sacred Art" biannual competition in Northeastern Italy. Then he participated in historic encounter of the "City of Rome" and "City of Florence" International Academies, and received the title of "Academician of merit for painting" and the "City of Florence" cup. In 1999 he was commissioned to paint six religious paintings at St. Sarkis Armenian Apostolic Church in Detroit, Michigan.

Koko Garabet held numerous exhibitions throughout Italy, Middle East, and the US, including his solo exhibition in Glendale, California, dedicated to the 1700th Anniversary of the Proclamation of Christianity in Armenia.

His paintings carry both the spirit of an Armenian raised far from his homeland, and a man taught in best traditions of European, and particularly Italian art. Yet all his paintings carry very individual and original elements, where the prominence is given to light.

As one of the professors at Venice Academy of Fine Arts, Prof. Luciano Zarotti noticed, "Koko Garabet has succeeded in bringing to light his own pictorial inquiry, a mirror of his interior thoughts…, while realizing a profound awareness of human conditions… a passionate research where the images are formed to express the drama of human life…"

During his speech at the opening of the exhibition at the Armenian Embassy, Koko Garabet thanked the Embassy for organizing it, and further talked of the importance of Armenian roots in his life, and their influence on his creations.

The opening of the exhibition was widely attended by the representatives of diplomatic corps, the Armenian American community of Washington area, art lovers and media. The exhibition will be on display till Friday, June 7, 2002