Armenian government leaves part of Minas Avetisyan's frescoes in Gyumri

The number of the frescoes painted by Minas Avetisyan (Minas), the great Armenian painter, will remain in the second largest city of Armenia – Gyumri. In accordance with the decision of the Armenian government, the restoration of two artist's frescoes will begin in the nearest future, stated Tigran Sarkisyan, Prime Minister of Armenia.

According to Mr Sarkisyan, taking into account the proposal of the Mayor of Gyumri and the LLC "Bagdasaryans", the Armenian government has permitted the restoration of the frescoes at the expense of the Mayoralty of Gyumri and the above company. In particular, the frescoes named "Weaving a Carpet" and "Armenian Idyll" are to be restored.

The Prime Minister emphasized that the fresco "Armenian Idyll" is included in the list of state immovable monuments of history and culture of Shirak Region of Armenia and is a public property. After the restoration this fresco will be exhibited in the conference hall of the Mayoralty of Gyumri, and the fresco "Weaving of a carpet" – in the lobby of the building No. 218 in Abovyan Street.

At present, the administration of Gyumri attracts investors who can finance the restoration of another four frescoes of Minas locating in Gyumri.

Sona Arutyunyan, Chief of the Division for Contemporary Art of the Ministry of Culture of Armenia, commenting on statements made by the initiative group from Gyumri, which opposed to the transport of the frescoes to Yerevan, said that the residents of Gyumri took no steps to preserve the frescoes of Minas.

According to Ms Arutyunyan, another 14 frescoes of Armenian artists still remain at the inactive plants of Gyumri.