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AUCTION ENDED
Artur Vardanyan, I am the living bread, 2014
About the Artist and the Artwork
Artur Vardanyan was born in 1974 in Yerevan. For 14 years he taught directing at the Yerevan Pedagogical Institute. In 1995, at Armenfilm, he made a course film ''Scales'', which was shown at the Cannes Youth Film Festival out of competition. He was the author of many television projects, the director and producer of films and serials.

Vardanyan donated a unique art object to the current charity auction, which has become an unconditional phenomenon of the auction – a traditional Armenian lavash with the miraculously burned face of Christ. "I am the living bread" is one of the copies of the limited series, in which only 33 lavashes were baked with the blessing of the Armenian Apostolic Church. A series of 33 lavashes, according to the number of years of Christ's earthly life, symbolizes the main Christian sacrament – Holy Communion.

This project appeared spontaneously. During the filming of a film about the art of baking traditional Armenian bread in a tonir (Armenian oven), an unusual event happened to Vardanyan – on one of the sheets of fresh lavash taken from the oven, he saw the face of Christ. All lavash from this tonir came out with a recognizable face, but not identical. Arthur keeps the location of this tonir a secret. So that the bread could become an exhibit and be stored for years, it was placed in a capsule frame and attached to a burlap. It should be noted that lavash itself is already a value – UNESCO has recognized lavash as an intangible cultural heritage of mankind.

Another such lavash entered the collection of the Sergei Parajanov Museum in Yerevan, where it was solemnly presented at a ceremony in July 2021 and will become part of the permanent exhibition. Vardanyan himself believes that if Parajanov had not existed, he would not have had the idea to create a series with lavash.

The accidentally seen face became a revelation for Vardanyan, which gave a powerful creative impetus. Foreign gallerists were interested in unusual exhibits – the series with lavash was exhibited in Armenia, Russia, Germany, and other countries. Thus, by the will of Providence and thanks to the artistic vision of Vardanyan, the national bread of Armenia became a work of art.
Lot 14
Artur Vardanyan
I am the living bread, 2014
Roasting, lavash, burlap
57 x 89 cm
location
Yerevan, Armenia
starting price
3000$
bids
0
Delivery is paid by the buyer. You can calculate the cost here.
This work has been donated to the Insurance Foundation for Servicemen (IFS). All proceeds will go to the Foundation.
About the Artist and the Artwork
Artur Vardanyan was born in 1974 in Yerevan. For 14 years he taught directing at the Yerevan Pedagogical Institute. In 1995, at Armenfilm, he made a course film ''Scales'', which was shown at the Cannes Youth Film Festival out of competition. He was the author of many television projects, the director and producer of films and serials.

Vardanyan donated a unique art object to the current charity auction, which has become an unconditional phenomenon of the auction – a traditional Armenian lavash with the miraculously burned face of Christ. "I am the living bread" is one of the copies of the limited series, in which only 33 lavashes were baked with the blessing of the Armenian Apostolic Church. A series of 33 lavashes, according to the number of years of Christ's earthly life, symbolizes the main Christian sacrament – Holy Communion.

This project appeared spontaneously. During the filming of a film about the art of baking traditional Armenian bread in a tonir (Armenian oven), an unusual event happened to Vardanyan – on one of the sheets of fresh lavash taken from the oven, he saw the face of Christ. All lavash from this tonir came out with a recognizable face, but not identical. Arthur keeps the location of this tonir a secret. So that the bread could become an exhibit and be stored for years, it was placed in a capsule frame and attached to a burlap. It should be noted that lavash itself is already a value – UNESCO has recognized lavash as an intangible cultural heritage of mankind.

Another such lavash entered the collection of the Sergei Parajanov Museum in Yerevan, where it was solemnly presented at a ceremony in July 2021 and will become part of the permanent exhibition. Vardanyan himself believes that if Parajanov had not existed, he would not have had the idea to create a series with lavash.

The accidentally seen face became a revelation for Vardanyan, which gave a powerful creative impetus. Foreign gallerists were interested in unusual exhibits – the series with lavash was exhibited in Armenia, Russia, Germany, and other countries. Thus, by the will of Providence and thanks to the artistic vision of Vardanyan, the national bread of Armenia became a work of art.