Author and host: HaykHambardzumyan
TOPIC hosts men of culture, clergymen, renowned filmmakers and actors, Armenian and foreign scientists, scholars of Armenian studies, young specialists, writers and journalists residing in and outside Armenia.
How much do the contemporary Armenian art and literature relate to the development trends of world art? What new Armenian studies are currently underway in Armenia and Diaspora? Does the modern art educate or it rather entertains? These and other questions are voiced and answered in the pavilion of TOPIC.
Frequency: Every Friday, at 21:50
Rerun: Saturday, at 13:30
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Black, White, Tricolor
What is a photograph – a documentary, or an image of “an eternally repeated rite of existence”, how is the history documented, how and to what extent does the photograph transfer the signs or marks of time; does it depict the reality or carves a legend? And lastly, what color does independence bear? Hayk Hambardzumyan hosts photographer Zaven Khachikyan.
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Treasury of St. Gregory of Narek
Many of us talk about St. Gregory of Narek (Grigor Narekatsi), we are proud of his work – Narek, yet few can boast to have read it and comprehend its meaning. The difficulties of reading and understanding the compositions of Narekatsi are closely linked to the complexity of their language, style and content, which seek respective spiritual, mental abilities and training from the readers. How can the mystery of Narekatsi’s works be made aaccessible to contemporary reader, how should the medieval genious be delivered? Hayk Hambardzumyan spoke about these issues with doctor of philology, literary critic Henrik Bakhchinyan.
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National Identity in Diaspora
The questions referring to national identity are among the most discussed topics in modern ethnography. These issues become even more pressing in the case of nations with large diaspora. Who is an Armenian in diaspora, what are the compound elements of his/her national identity, how is it ever possible to preserve in modern world? Hayk Hambardzumyan talked about these issues with ethnographer Harutyun Marutyan.
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Modern Statuary Art between High Art and Commerce
Around two dozens of individual and group exhibitions in Hungary, Germany, France and elsewhere. His works are at display in Hungarian museums, they decorate the streets of Budapest, hotels and individual collections. Hayk Hambardzumyan spoke about the European path crossed by the Armenian sculptor, as well as the meaning and tendencies of modern statuary art with famous Hungarian Armenian sculptor Mamikon Yengibaryan.
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Photographs of War and Peace
What was Artsakh like in the photographs prior to April war and how is it presented after the war? How is it ever possible to take the photos of war and peace, what photographs are preferred by leading Western media and how do they reflect the reality? Hayk Hambardzumyan spoke about these issues photographer Anahit Hayrapetyan.
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Holy Etchmiadzin in Art
The worship of the spiritual center of Armenians Holy Etchmiadzin has been reflected not only in the medieval written and spoken literary traditions, but also in the art. Miniatures, sculptures, curtains, silver covers and other various items were created in different places, which all somehow express the topic and sacrament of Holy Etchmiadzin. When and how did the iconography of Holy Etchmiadzin develop, what are its key motives and how is it related to the medieval literature? Hayk Hambardzumyan spoke about these issues with Vardan Devrikyan, PhD in Philology, Head of M. Abeghyan Institute of Literature.
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Development of Rural Communities – Guarantee for Prosperous Future
“Children are our future”: this well-known expression can be often heard in the discussions related to the country development and everywhere. The question is what is actually done to ensure conditions and opportunities for the education and nurturing of children, especially in marzes, where the children’s life is even more difficult with fewer opportunities? What program are there to contribute to identification of children’s potential? Hayk Hambardzumyan spoke with the Founder and Chairman of Children of Armenia Fund Garo Armen.
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Writer, Language and Reality
How does the Diaspora Armenian writer handle the issue of choosing between the languages, what reality does their work reflect as a whole? How does the literature, and particularly the genre of novel, relate to modernity? Hayk Hambardzumyan spoke about these issues with writer, literary critic Grigor Pltian.
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Cultural Cooperation and Modern Armenian Painting Abroad
New environment and impressions not only give birth to new compositions, but also contribute to their presentation and development of cultural cooperation. What does the Armenian painter gain by changing his/her environment, are any ties made between foreign artists and how does all these come to help the recognition of our contemporary art beyond the borders? Hayk Hambardzumyan spoke about these issues with painter Arman Vahanyan.
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From East to West, from Sensual World to Conceptual
2016 is a jubilee for Diaspora intellectual Grigor Pltian. This year marks 50th anniversary of his literary activities. Grigor Pltian presented his new book “What You Do Not See” in Yerevan. What are the thoughts of the intellectual as he approaches his half-century jubilee, what’s his view on the current state of Diaspora Armenian literature, and what prospects in general does he see in this present state of Western Armenian? Hayk Hambardzumyan spoke about these issues with writer, literary critic Grigor Pltian.
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New Life of “Foreign Literature”
It’s been 15 years since the magazine “Foreign Literature” is being published posting translated works of world-known authors and featuring new and unknown writers and trends in foreign literature to the Armenian readers. Hayk Hambardzumyan spoke about the magazine “Foreign Literature”, as well as contemporary translation issues with poet, translator and Editor-in-Chief of “Foreign Magazine” Vahe Arsen.
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National Music between East and West
Although the phrase “contemporary national composition school” is used abundantly, yet the words “national” and “contemporary” need further explanation. What elements characterize national music art especially in the modern world rejecting bounderies, where is the borderline between the national and above-national, and how do modern Armenian composers interpret the peculiarities of all these phenomena?
Hayk Hambardzumyan spoke about these issues with composer Vache Sharafyan.
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