Armen Agop on Representing Egypt at the 61st Venice Biennale

Egyptian-Armenian artist Armen Agop is representing Egypt at the 61st International Art Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia.

The Egyptian pavilion’s soft opening took place on Tuesday, while the official opening of the Biennale is scheduled for May 9.

The official opening was attended by several prominent figures, including Dr. Rasha Saleh and Ambassador Walid Osman.

Agop, who is both an artist and curator, has titled the exhibition “Silence Pavilion: Between the Tangible and the Intangible,” inviting viewers to explore human values beyond considerations of race, religion, or nationality, emphasizing that humanity remains the highest value.

The pavilion showcases a contemporary artistic vision inspired by the rich depth of Egyptian civilization.

Through his work, Agop reflects on his personal experience as the grandson of an Armenian refugee who found a homeland in Egypt that embraced him and provided opportunities for full integration. This journey eventually led him to represent his country at major international art events.

At the opening ceremony, Agop affirmed that Egypt exemplifies a model of coexistence and integration, thanks to its long history of welcoming diverse cultures and offering opportunities to all without discrimination.

He highlighted Egypt’s enduring legacy spanning thousands of years as a civilization that absorbs and embraces others, providing equal opportunities for everyone to succeed regardless of their origins.

Agop delves into creating a “spiritual experience” that transcends traditional art forms by focusing on internal energy rather than external appearance.

By inviting visitors into a “Pavilion of Silence,” the artist encourages a retreat from visual noise to foster a deep, meditative connection with the artwork.

He challenges superficial labels of “ancient” or “contemporary,” advocating instead for a trans-temporal identity that reflects the universal human essence found in both Egyptian heritage and modern life.

A core element of his philosophy is the intimacy of touch; allowing visitors to feel the volcanic granite serves as a tactile invitation to reconnect with the primordial essence of the Earth.

Ultimately, his work functions as a vessel for transcendent energy, aiming to evoke the sacred permanence of ancient monuments while maintaining relevance to the shared human spirit.

In an interview with "Extra News," he reflected on his participation at the Biennale.

Agop highlighted that the silence has been present in art for a long time and presented in the ancient Egyptian art.

He added, "Silence, I believe, is very clearly present, but it's not silence in the sense of stillness, The expressive silence in ancient Egyptian art has a calmness in form and lines, and it has an inner energy that is more subtle than the literal expression of forms and sizes, So, for a long time, inner silence has preoccupied me in artworks in general. So, to the theme of the drummer, and I think that my call for silence is not a call other than what I tried to do in the work itself, but rather a call to the audience, asking them to be silent,"

"The visitor is asked not to talk, not to take pictures, not to take out his phone, and to experience an inner state alone with the work and with the visitor at the same time," Agop noted.

Dr. Rasha Saleh, Director of the Egyptian Academy of Arts in Rome, praised the Egyptian government’s support of the arts, commending Dr. Jehan Zaki, Minister of Culture, for promoting artistic creativity and strengthening Egypt’s presence at international events.

Ambassador Walid Othman, Egypt’s Consul General in Milan, also praised Agop’s artistic work, highlighting the uniqueness of his pieces, which blend elements of ancient Egyptian art with contemporary visions.

The Egyptian pavilion received widespread praise from a distinguished group of museum directors, artists, critics, and journalists from various nationalities during its official opening in Venice.

Egypt’s participation in the Biennale is under the auspices of the Ministry of Culture, as part of the 61st edition, themed “Minor Keys,” and runs until November 22.