Sentimental Journey Leads to Treasures of Undiscovered Art

All of his life, the Montreal-based Armenian-Canadian had heard stories of his ancestors’ homeland, stories of rapturous beauty, stories of unspeakable suffering. Now, at the midpoint of his life, he felt inescapably drawn to see that homeland for himself, to find his roots in Armenia.  

Among the many things revealed to him, among the many discoveries, was the richness and diversity of Armenia’s art. He had gone to Armenia on one mission; he returned to Canada with another. This is how Asbed Palakian and a group of art-loving friends began Passport Arts.

The mission of Passport Arts is to bring to the world’s attention undiscovered works of art from hidden corners of the globe. In its debut, the Canadian company has focused on countries of the Caucasus, primarily Armenia, but also Georgia, Nagorno-Karabakh, and the Black Sea region of Russia.

“These are countries,” says Palakian, “that have endured centuries of pain. But out of torment and turbulence, great beauty has merged. Art has sprung up like a flower growing from a rock. In the Caucasus, you are surrounded by three millennia of artistic creativity, from ancient khatchkars, the stone crosses of Armenia, to the most innovative and experimental work of the 21st century.

“Artists of these regions,” Palakian continues, “live and work in small, often isolated areas. And while they are rich in talent, few possess the kind of marketing sophistication that would lead them outside the boundaries of their countries. We felt a responsibility to these artists to present their work to a global audience. At the same time, we felt a responsibility to art aficionados to offer them views of works they might otherwise never see.”

The Virtual Art Gallery

To achieve this, Passport Arts has created a virtual gallery, an online museum viewers may tour at their computers. The website www.passportarts.com, launched in June 2009, currently displays over 150 oil paintings, watercolors, drawings, photographs and collages, with short, often fascinating biographies of the artists and analyses of their work.  

Palakian says, “To see these artworks in person, one would have to travel to the Caucasus, search out the artists, and visit their studios, which are often out of the mainstream and not easily found. To do this would take an enormous investment in time and travel.”

This is exactly what Passport Arts has done, so that the rest of us can see contemporary arts of the Caucasus without leaving our homes.

Doorway to an Enchanted World

Many of the artists are major figures, among them Harout Harutiunyan, curator of the Museum of Fine Arts in the legendary Holy City of Etchmiadzin, and photographer Vasgen Degirmentas, whose most recent book, “Rewind 25,” chronicles a quarter-century of Armenian life in Istanbul.  

One of the most colorful and fascinating figures in the Passport Arts gallery is Mais Mkhitaryan. Born in Georgia, but a longtime resident of Armenia, Mkhitaryan has been the subject of two documentary films, including the 2002 Canadian production “Mon fils sera Armenian.” His work is often fanciful (beautifully gowned ladies wearing hats containing exotic birds and fish) and often religious (“Mother of God,” “The Pharisee,” and his magnificent tapestry “The Mysterious Supper”).

To visit Mkhitaryan’s studio, one must climb a winding road of stone buildings, without the aid of street signs. “But once there,” Palakian relates, “the artist, garbed in renaissance costume, pours Cognac, serves walnut-stuffed dried fruits, plays music of an Armenian liturgical choir. It is a welcome more than worth the climb and the search.”

While Mkhitaryan’s paintings hang in the World Bank MC Atrium and Washington, D.C.’s Preston Auditorium, other artists introduced by Passport Arts are emerging, making their initial entry onto the international stage. Their styles cover the full spectrum of contemporary art, from figurative to abstract. Surrealists, impressionists, cubists, minimalists—all find a place at Passport Arts. The subjects are equally wide-ranging. The Passport Arts gallery includes landscapes, marine impressions, portraits, nudes, street scenes, architectural renderings, still life and botanical studies, spiritual visions, fantasies and fairy tale imaginings. “Entering this gallery,” said one viewer, “is like opening the door to an enchanted world.”

The works displayed in this online gallery are intended for more than viewing, although Passport Arts is pleased to welcome all interested visitors. But, in addition, the oils, watercolors, drawings, photographs and collages are offered for sale. “This is something more we can do for the artists,” says Palakian. “We can introduce them to a  global market and act as their intermediary with buyers. There is a benefit to buyers, as well. Because we do not have the expenses of a conventional gallery, prices are modest.”  

Works presented by Passport Arts range from charming miniatures to wall-dominating oils. Those selected online by collectors are shipped direct from the country of origin to the buyers. Full details of the system are outlined at www.passportarts.com

While the Passport Arts website currently displays contemporary artworks of the Caucasus, it is the company’s intention to introduce artists of other countries to its global audience. “The thrill for us is in the discovery of artists and artworks far from the beaten path,” says Palakian. “It is our privilege to work with these artists and share their creations with viewers around the world.”

What began as a sentimental journey has become an international phenomenon,  a unique way to view remarkable, seldom-seen artworks and to discover little-known artists.

“It is,” says Palakian, “a labor of love. Our greatest satisfaction comes in bringing artists and collectors together, when they are thousands of miles apart.”