The works of Armenian medieval mural paintings stand out for their artistic merits, with often original iconography and are of great importance not only for Armenian, but also for world art. Mural painting (fresco) is one of the oldest branches of Armenian art, one which is inextricably linked with architecture. Ancient samples of mural painting in Armenia have been preserved from the times of the Kingdom of Urartu (Ararat), 8-7th centuries BC.
This presentation will introduce the practice of heritage forensics in relation to the ongoing research program of Caucasus Heritage Watch (CHW). Founded in 2020 in the wake of the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War, CHW uses the techniques of cultural aerospace to document, detect, and deter attacks on the fragile remains of the human past. This talk is organized around three forensic dossiers on medieval and early modern heritage caught in the crosshairs of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
In this special presentation Dr. Claude Mutafian will cover both topics. There will also be a musical presentation by acclaimed composer and pianist Vatche Mankerian.
Join us on for an online panel discussion, "The Fall of Artsakh: Refugee Crisis, Existential Threat, and Uncertain Future," with a distinguished panel including Vicken Cheterian, Bedross Der Matossian, Nerses Kopalyan, Anna Ohanyan, and David L. Phillips, moderated by Marc A. Mamigonian.