Armenia's Yerevan Biennial Statement on Crisis in Nagorno-Karabakh

Following the embargoed press announcement of Yerevan Biennial's digital launch, The Time Complex, here you can find a statement from Artistic Director and Curator of Yerevan Biennial Art Foundation, Lorenzo Fusi, addressing on behalf of the entire team the current crisis in the Nagorno-Karabakh region and the growing conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan:

"In response to the current crisis in the Nagorno-Karabakh region and in respect of the victims of the conflict and their families, the Yerevan Biennial Art Foundation has decided to cancel the scheduled launch events of the first Yerevan Biennial. We are mourning in particular civilian casualties, including the death of fine art students on the Armenian side.

We strongly believe that art, culture, education and heritage play a vital role in the life of a country. In fact, they express the very essence of a people, as well as their intellectual vitality and uniqueness. Without art, culture, education and heritage, our collective and individual identity is lost. This is precisely why we have decided to unceremoniously open and make accessible to the public our Digital Biennial. During these dark days, it is important to show our humanity.

We hope to resume further activity as soon as possible. Meanwhile, we pray for the de-escalation of the conflict and safety of the Armenian people. As UN-Secretary, António Guterres, recently stated: “To silence the guns, we must raise the voices for peace”.