MEKHITAR GARABEDIAN

Belgium

 

Born in 1977 in Aleppo, Syria, he currently lives and works in Ghent, Belgium. Mekhitar Garabedian is a young artist who draws inspiration for many of his works from his experience as an immigrant. Raised in Belgium, Garabedian’s upbringing established a consciousness of his family’s continued struggle to preserve their Armenian heritage. Memory is central to many of his works, articulated not only through recollection or looking to the past, but also through repetition as a mnemonic exercise. Often his works build on aspects of Armenian culture, but others take their inspiration from works in music, literature or film. He has participated in many solo and collective exhibitions in Europe and worldwide, among which Here and Elsewhere, New Museum, New York in 2014. In 2015 his work will be shown at the Thessaloniki Biennale. Garabedian was awarded the Ariane de Rotschild Art Prize in 2008. He is currently affiliated with KASK/School of Arts Ghent as a researcher and guest professor Installation and Media art.

Mekhitar Garabedian, Table (Histoire de mes ancêtres) / Saint Lazare, Venise, 2013-2014

Ink on paper, 134 x 100 cm, 69 x 100 cm

Courtesy the artist and Albert Baronian Gallery, Brussels