Vartan Avakian
Vartan Avakian, b. 1977, Byblos, Lebanon, is an artist based in Beirut. He works with video, photography, installation and natural material. Avakian studied Architecture and Urban Culture at the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya and the Centre de Cultura Contemporània de Barcelona, and Communication Arts at the Lebanese American University in Beirut. He is a founding member of the art collective Atfal Ahdath and a member of the Arab Image Foundation.
His latest exhibitions include Light in Wartime at Apexart, New York (2018), Home Beirut: Sounding the Neighbors at MAXXI, Rome (2018), Chapter V at Savvy Contemporary, Betlin (2018) and Esma’/Listen at the Beirut Art Center (2017).
His work has been shown in Center for Contemporary Arts Ujazdowski Castle, Warsaw, 2015; Sursock Museum, Beirut, 2015; VideoWorks, Beirut, 2015; Mori Art Museum, Tokyo, 2012; Transmediale 2K+12, Berlin, 2012; Sharjah Biennial X, Sharjah, 2011; Pratt Manhattan Gallery, New York, 2011; The Cube, Taipei, 2011; South London Gallery, London, 2011; Home Works V, Beirut, 2010; Beirut Art Center, Beirut, 2010. Avakian is the recipient of the Abraaj Capital Art Prize 2012.