Artist Akhsar Muriev presented a solo exhibition in Yerevan

YEREVAN, 30 OCTOBER, ARMENPRESS. The Modern Art Museum of Yerevan and curator Anton Levahin presented Akhsar Muriev’s solo exhibition, titled MAGNIFIQUE VOYAGE, ou L'HISTOIRE D'UN HOMME, translated from French as "Magnificent Journey, or the Story of One Man". The French title creates a thought-provoking dialogue between Muriev’s works and the meditative reflections of Marcel Proust, particularly with the characters in Proust’s magnum opus “In Search of Lost Time”. This intertextual reference emphasizes both the philosophical underpinnings and the nostalgic, almost reverential tone of the exhibition. The duality in the title further underscores the exhibition's layered context—it is, on one hand, a personal journey and, on the other, a reflective story of transformation through observation.

According to Armenpress, the exhibition reflects the creative path of a lyrical protagonist, captured within Muriev’s paintings.

Zara Ayryumyan, the museum’s deputy director and an art historian, remarked on the strong influence of European contemporary art within Muriev’s canvases. While the figures depicted are highly dramatic and emotionally charged, the composition, color palette, and brushwork reveal a distinctly European sensibility. “Akhsar’s approach to form is especially intriguing; he actively engages with deformation, a compelling technique that evokes elements of surrealism and aligns some of his pieces with the fantastic realism movement. Still, this remains contemporary art—a space where objective interpretation becomes irrelevant, allowing each work to be perceived uniquely by the viewer, the artist, and the critics,” Ayryumyan commented. She further highlighted the high cultural standard of the exhibition presentation, crediting curator Anton Levahin’s meticulous approach to each detail—from the spatial design of the hall to the choice of wall colors and poster arrangements. “For him, every detail is meaningful,” she added.

Art historian and curator Armen Yesayants highlights the dramaturgical qualities, a certain narrative thread in Akhsar Muriev’s works, where elements also resonate with the spirit of German Expressionism. “You can draw certain parallels with Otto Dix, Kirchner, and even, to an extent, Munch. Muriev’s paintings display an intensity of fauvist tones and an aggressive expressiveness in the forms and figures, which creates a sharp, direct engagement with the viewer, evoking a uniquely expressionist e ect but in a more contemporary interpretation, attuned to today’s sensibilities,” Yesayants noted. He added that some works carry a "sculptural" and "decorative" quality with a pastose texture, where instead of delicate brushstrokes, a more pronounced, almost relief-like e ect appears, as if the figures could step off the canvas and engage with the viewer at any moment.

Yesayants emphasized that the international projects presented at the Modern Art Museum of Yerevan bring an intriguing contrast to Armenia’s cultural environment. Such exhibitions offer audiences the opportunity to engage with a visual language and modes of artistic thought that reach beyond the local context, offering a broader perspective on artistic exploration. He believes that Muriev’s work will leave an enduring mark on Armenia’s art community, inspiring artists, captivating art lovers, and contributing a valuable narrative within the broader cultural sphere.

The exhibition presented Muriev’s recent works from 2023-2024, showcasing large-scale triptychs like Magnificent Journey, Solar Dance, Family Portrait in Interior, and Dynamic Composition in Three Parts. Among the attendees was conductor Eduard Topchjan, who first encountered Muriev’s art two years ago while conducting the main gala concert of a festival dedicated to Dmitri Hvorostovsky. Muriev had created many artworks for the event, an impressive international festival. Topchyan remembered being captivated by Muriev’s work at that time. “I am familiar with his paintings, and I am particularly drawn to the richness of his colors, the masteryinhisbrushwork,and the evocative imagination and expressiveness of his images. The curator, Anton Levahin, has played a pivotal role in shaping this exhibition. Levahin lives and breathes art. He possesses profound knowledge in painting, literature, and classical music, organizing exhibitions and concerts and becoming a trusted advisor and confident artists," Topchjan remarked.

Levahin’s collaboration with the Modern Art Museum of Yerevan is not his first; in 2024, he supported the Armenian Pavilion organizers at the 60th Venice Biennale. Reflecting on his encounter with Muriev in Rome, Levahin shared, “I was immediately captivated by Akhsar’s superbly crafted antique-style graphic works. His brushwork is light, agile, flexible, precise, free, and alive. These works left a powerful impression on the audience and were very well-received. The foundation of the artistic design in several of my projects is rooted in Muriev’s graphic and pictorial works. I believe the emotional and visual impact of this exhibition resonates with the spirit of Aram Khachaturian’s ballet Spartacus and Ottorino Respighi’s symphonic poem RomanTrilogy, both of which masterfully depict the eternal city of Rome. The landscapes, nature, light, and colors filling the city can serve as keys to understanding Akhsar Muriev’s art. I hope each visitor has found the contours of their own journey within these works, has seen and heard their own story within them. This is, in essence, each visitor’s own 'Magnificent Journey, or the Story of One Man,'" Levahin concluded.

Levahin collaborates with leading artists and international institutions, curating exhibition projects at the Venice Biennale, one of the largest global forums for contemporary art, earning high acclaim. Through his efforts, a partnership was established between the Cafesjian Center for the Arts and the Accademia di Belle Arti in Venice, enabling Armenia’s participation in the 60th Venice Biennale with “Echo”, an exhibition by Nina Khemchyan and curator Armen Yesayants, presented in the historic Magazzino del Sale. Levahin’s collaboration with the Modern Art Museum of Yerevan remains close, further enriching the museum’s international profile.