WATERTOWN, Mass.—On Sun., April 10, the Boston community will have a rare opportunity to see and meet Istanbul-based performance artist Mihran Tomasyan at the Armenian Cultural and Educational Center (ACEC) in Watertown.
Mihran Tomasyan (Photo: Freddy Peretti)
The evening will feature a performance of Tomasyan’s “You are Not a Fish After All,” a work dedicated to Hrant Dink. This work started with a poem, an old suitcase, thrown-out cassettes, and some toys. Now it has turned into a piece that traveled to 3 continents, to more than 30 cities, and countless venues ranging from streets to family houses, from small cafes to large performance halls. It still continues its journey, to talk about battles, murders, lost voices, and what remains from all.
“You cross the water’s path, put sandbags or set a wall before it, but whatever you do, water finds a crack, and keeps flowing freely. Of course, in the journey, it faces many obstacles, maybe even gets all muddy; this is always the case. However, in this country, “water killings” constantly take place. This piece is the story of those who make the journey of water their own. A suitcase is opened, things come out, and surely find their own cracks.”
Born in Istanbul, Tomasyan attended Getronagan High School, and graduated from the Department of Modern Dance at Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University in 2001. He went on to France and completed his dance education at the Centre National de Dance Contemporain in 2002. He danced with Rebecca Lazier both in America and Canada in 1999, and with the Yard Dance Group on Martha’s Vineyard in 2000. That same year, Tomasyan performed at the New York Downtown Festival. In Turkey, he worked with choreographers Aydın Teker and Tuğçe Ulugün Tuna. Tomasyan danced in the Gyumri Biennale in Armenia in 2003; at that time, he founded the dance company, “Cıplak Ayaklar Kumpanyası.” He also danced with the “As Palavras” Dance Company in Belgium, the Companie Cre-Ange in Paris, and the “Da Motus” Company in Switzerland. In Istanbul, Tomasyan works on movement and dance with video and installation at the Çıplak Ayaklar Kumpanyası.
The performance on April 10 is a rare opportunity to see an Istanbul-based artist perform in person. Artists have always been at the forefront of social movements, and Tomasyan is no exception. Fully embedded in the recent renaissance of Armenian identity in Istanbul, this evening will offer an opportunity to see his performance art in person. Guests will also have the chance to listen to him discuss the social and cultural reality of Armenians in Istanbul.
The performance begins at 7 p.m. at the ACEC, 47 Nichols Ave. in Watertown. Tickets are $20 (or $10 for students). Tickets can be purchased online (by visiting hamazkayinboston.org) or at the door. The event is organized by Hamazkayin-Boston. For more information, call (617) 775-4633 or e-mail info@hamazkayinboston.org.
Source: Armenian Weekly
Link: Istanbul-Based Performance Artist Mihran Tomasyan to Perform at ACEC