05.05.2015


In the capital city of France - sister city of Yerevan - a temporary exhibition dedicated to the Armenian Genocide Centennial was opened.

In the heart of Paris, in the historical building of Paris Municipality, Hôtel de Ville, France hosted the collection of the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute.

On April 28, the grand opening of the exhibition “Armenia 1915: Paris hosts the collection of the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute of Yerevan” took place.

Opening speeches were made by the Mayor of Paris Anne Hidalgo, the RA Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandyan, the AGMI director Hayk Demoyan.

Mr. Demoyan handed to the Mayor of Paris the original poster issued in 1919 by the American Near East Relief, which was selected by Anne Hidalgo to be the exhibition poster. “I wish to express my deepest gratitude to Paris Municipality, the Former Mayor Bertrand Delanoe and current Mayor Anne Hidalgo. I thank the Embassy of the RA in France, benefactor of the AGMI and my friend Jivan Cheloyants, ACBA-Credit Agricole Bank and all those who assisted in organizing this exhibition.

Mrs. Mayor, on the occasion of the opening of this exhibition let me present You the original picture of the exhibition poster, as a token of appreciation”, said Hayk Demoyan. Nearly 2000 invitees, representatives of different religious communities, Charles Aznavour, dozens of Ambassadors accredited to Paris, members of French Parliament and local councils, Deputy Mayor of Yerevan, leaders of Armenian organizations in France participated in the event.

The RA Foreign Minister and the Mayor of Paris accompanied by the AGMI Director Hayk Demoyan and exhibition commissioner Raymond Gevorgian had a tour in the halls of Paris Municipality and were introduced to the exhibits.

After the official opening of the exhibition, Paris was flooded with the billboards announcing the exhibition.

A notebook in the lobby of the exhibition hall allows the visitors to record their impressions.

The AGMI Director, Doctor of Historical Sciences Hayk Demoyan mentioned: “This is a historical event. This exhibition is unique both in terms of extent and representation. It is related to the Armenian Genocide, First World War, and of course the Armenian-French memory and history.

Yes, this is truly an exceptional event for the museum. Realizing the importance of presenting such an exhibition in Paris, we decided to present unique exhibits of the AGMI collection, which I am sure, will generate great interest. I wish to express my heartfelt thanks to Paris Municipality for enabling such an opportunity, as well as, the Armenian Embassy in Paris for their assistance in organizing works”.

The exhibition entitled “ARMENIA 1915: Paris hosts the collection of the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute of Yerevan” will be open till 4th of July.

Simultaneously, at two halls of Paris Municipality museum samples and photos presenting shocking episodes of the Armenian Genocide carried on by the Turks in the Ottoman Empire in the beginning of 20th century are shown.

About 150 exhibits of the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute collection are included in this exhibition, each of them giving exclusive information on this or that episode of human tragedy. These samples, most of which are displayed for the first time out of Armenia, include personal items, documents, diaries, photographs, papers of genocide victims and survivors, fundraiser editions of foreign relief organizations and other original units.

Among the samples provided by the AGMI, the collection of Genocide survivor Aurora Mardiganian has a unique place, as the original exhibits are shown for the first time in Paris. The collection includes the posters of a silent movie “Auction of Souls” produced in California in 1918, photos, personal items, publications dedicated to Aurora and other exclusive samples. In 1919 the film was also screened in “Salle Gavo” concert hall in Paris. The screening of this movie in Paris in 1919 was part of a great artistic event organized by Armenophil Duchess de Rohan and Baroness Koshen. The film was shown for charitable purposes, and all the income was donated to orphan protecting activities.

Back in October 2014, Mr. Jean-Yves Camus, a representative of Paris Mayor’s Office arrived in Armenia. Mr. Camus visited the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute and got acquainted with the exhibition samples which would be shown at Paris Municipality halls.

Jean-Yves Camus noted that “The Former Mayor of Paris Bertrand Delanoe and his legal successor Anna Hidalgo made a decision to host an exhibition dedicated to the history and memory of the Armenian Genocide. The exhibition will be opened in April 2015 and will include exhibits and documents provided by the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute. Hence, a strong collaboration is carried out with the museum-institute”.

This exhibition also includes the document collection of Nubarian Library of Paris, which are related to the primary sources of the Armenian Genocide - Genocide survivor refugees. The exhibition of Paris is organized by Yerevan Municipality, Armenian Embassy in France, and Coordination Council of Armenian Organizations of France (CCAF).

The exhibition has also a section for books and their sale, where publications of the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute are presented.

In October 1, 2014, Paris City Council unanimously adopted the report of Paris Municipality about organizing events dedicated to the centennial of the Armenian Genocide and struggle against denial.