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From ancient times, Armenians have cherished their artistic traditions,
which reflect a unique culture and landscape. Aspects of everyday
life are expressed in the most artistic fashion, in needlework,
embellishments, carvings and design. Architecture is one of the most
interesting art forms in Armenia, as, for
example, churches bear artistic illustrations in frescoes and
reliefs. Sculpting is everywhere - in nearly every city, town, and
village in Armenia.
Armenians love music, and they
have been creating exquisite compositions for centuries. Sharakans
are traditional Armenian liturgical songs. Distinctive musical
instruments are used to play Armenian folk songs. Sayat Nova,
Komitas, and Aram Khachaturian are among Armenia's
best-known musicians and composers. Contemporary music comes in the
forms of jazz and pop. The Sayat Nova Conservatory helps polish
future generations of Armenian musicians. Frequent concerts make for
delightful evenings at the Philharmonic,
Chamber Music Hall, Opera and Ballet House in
Yerevan.Literature has always played a vital role in Armenia's cultural and national
identity. Before the Armenian alphabet was developed in the 5th
century, Armenian tales were passed down by oral tradition and
written in foreign languagesArmenian manuscripts, beautifully illuminated with miniatures, combine
Armenia's
literary and illustrative traditions. Christian culture and the
invention of the Armenian alphabet by Mesrop Mashtots, gave new
stimuli to the development of unique cultural traditions. There is
no better place to view this literary and artistic history than
Yerevan's unique Matenadaran (Institute
of Ancient Manuscripts),
which houses an extraordinary collection of 14,000 complete
manuscripts, fragments and miniatures. The oldest parchments date
back to the fifth and sixth centuries. The majority of manuscripts
are research works of ancient scholars on theology, astronomy,
astrology, alchemy, geography, history, medicine, poetry and music.
Armenian painting blossomed in the 19th century. Artists from that
period, such as the portrait painter Hakob Hovnatanian and the
seascape artist Ivan Aivazovsky, continue to enjoy
internationalreputation. The Caucasus region and
Armenia
in particular have been cited by scholars as the place where rug and
carpet weaving originated. Armenians continue this tradition, and
one can find many shops specializing in fine new and old rugs and
carpets. Here you will come across loads of charming handicrafts
that will be hard to resist purchase. Visitors to
Armenia
find handmade crafts, Armenian gold, precious and semi-precious
stones which inspire jewelers in many regions. Carpet making is not
only a fine art, but Kilim weaving, for example, is applied to
clothing items, bags, and home furnishings. Wood carvings replicate
the ancient stone crosses (khachkars) found throughout the country,
and no two are exactly alike. Armenian crafts couple elegant utility
and delightful whimsy in textiles, ceramics, metal and woodworking.
Armenia
is often referred to as an open air museum. Tourists find over 4,000
historical monuments throughout
Armenia, covering various periods
of the country's history from prehistoric to Hellenistic times, and
from the early to medieval Christian era. Within Yerevan alone there are
more than 40 fine arts museums and galleries.
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