Daron Mouradian opens first solo exhibit in Turkey

ISTANBUL

Kadir Has University’s Gallery KHAS is hosting Armenian artist Daron Mouradian’s first solo exhibition, “Open Hidden Game,” in Turkey. 

Curated by Professor Hasan Bülent Kahraman, “Open Hidden Game” opened on March 15. 

Speaking about the artist, Kahraman said Mouradian is showing viewers the other side of art. 

“We are already aware that art has something to do with games, mystery, diversion and pleasure, but we somehow always overlook this fact. Mouradian is reminding us all of this. He is transferring all the objects we know and identify, all those that are nearby, those we sometimes see and touch, into another universe. He is making them a part of another world, whilst pushing us toward that world. This world, which is surprising, impressive, sometimes creepy, mostly outright scary but always evoking a playful sentiment, is bringing the audience on the margin of humor, irony, jest and tease. There awaits them many surprises, fervors and joys. Mouradian brings the legacy of the likes of Breugel and Bosch into the harsh, stern world of the 21st century which is time to time bereft of any meaning, to remind us of ourselves once again,” Kahraman explained. 

Mouradian is an artist who likes to push the unconscious to the forefront, bringing it to light. Art is dream that has materialized. While creating this material, he intrinsically builds an all-out nonphysical world. Thus the audience is caught between real and unreal, concrete and abstract, conspicuous and ambiguous. 

Overweight women, men with moustaches, weird clothing, overgrown fishes and flying machines both bring before us the improbable reality of those dreams and expose us to certain malicious things. All that is shown leads to an uncanny world.

“Mouradian is playing his games. This is all fictitious. We are most certainly aware that it is a game. Yet, here he goes playing it and here we go believing in it. This is an open game. But it possesses certain parts that are hidden, mysterious. And so, this exhibition is an open, hidden game! But wouldn’t it also be a hidden, open game?” Kahraman asked. 

“Open Hidden Game” will run through July 1 at Gallery KHAS in the Cibali campus. 

About Daron Mouradian

Born in 1961, Yerevan, Armenia, Mouradian graduated from Panos Terlemezian Arts College in 1982 and Yerevan Academy of Fine Arts in 1990. He was awarded the prize of Excellence of the Fine Arts Academy of Yerevan. His works have been exhibited in Armenia (1972-1991), Paris (1992-1996), Germany, Netherlands, Switzerland, Lebanon and the U.S. 

All his works are inspired by Armenian culture, combining the civilizations of the East and the West, and includes memories of the past (the Middle Ages). Mouradian’s world of fantasy is an ever-changing environment where the Bible and mythology play a major role. He leads viewers to make an in-depth self-analysis, in search of our own roots, to be able to live the future with greater serenity. 

A book about his art, “The Art of Daron Mouradian,” was published in 2007 in the Netherlands. He lives and works in Yerevan.