ArmInfo. Within the framework of the First International Photo Exhibition of Armenia (Armenian International Photo Fest) in the Blue Mosque in Yerevan from August 31 to September 28, an exhibition of works by the great Iranian photographer of Armenian descent Antoine Sevrugin (late XIX - early XX centuries) is held.
"Unfortunately, there are very few sources and literature mentioning the Armenian roots of the photographer," noted art critic Lilit Tadzhalyan during a press conference, who has been studying the genealogy of the Sevrugins since the mid-90s.
She said that Antoine's father, Vasily Sevrugin, worked at the Russian Embassy in Iran, and for such a position he needed to change his surname, or remove the ending "yan" inherent in Armenian surnames. Thus, the two generations of the Sevrugins did not bear the Armenian surname, and only the son of Anutan, Andre, who is considered a famous artist, again became Sevrugyan. Sevrugyan is also the great-grandson of the great photographer Emmanuel, who donated over 100 photographs of Antoine and Andre's paintings to the Museum-Institute of Ancient Manuscripts "Matenadaran" in Yerevan.
In general, speaking about the work of Antoine Sevrugin, the art critic noted that at that time he was the only photographer who not only perpetuated important events, but did it artistically. Sevrugin was a personal photographer of the Shah, he was allowed to attend private meetings and other important events, the entrance to which other Iranian photographers was strictly prohibited. , - L. Tadzhalyan noted. She also said that with the assistance of the Center of Culture of the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in the Republic of Armenia, a catalog of works by Antoine Sevrugin was published, which describes the photographs in three languages - Armenian, English and Iranian.
In turn, Seyed Mohamad Reza Heydari, an adviser to the Center of Culture of the Iranian Embassy in the Republic of Armenia, noted that the choice of work for a separate exhibition of Anutan Sevrugin was correct within the framework of the photo festival. "His photographs are presented in many prestigious galleries in Europe and the world," he said. In addition, an adviser to the cultural center at the Iranian Embassy in Armenia noted: .
It should be noted that within the framework of the photo festival, which takes place at 39 exhibition venues in Yerevan and will last until September 28, was held photo contest with the participation of photographers from 20 countries. The first place was won by a photographer from India, the second place was awarded to an Armenian photographer, and the third place went to a photographer from Iran.