Museum

The museum was founded by government resolution in 1988, after the first exhibition at the Museum of Armenian Folk Art. At that time 40 of Parajanov's works were acquired and appropriate premises were allocated, consisting of two buildings in the "Dzoragiugh" Ethnographic Center - one for the museum and the other for Parajanov's home. Construction was delayed due to the earthquake of 1988 and the museum was opened in 1991.

Sergei Parajanov was the author of several film-masterpieces which brought him world praise: "The Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors" (1964), "The Colour of Pomegranates" or "Sayat-Nova" (1969), "The Legend of Suram Fortress"
(1985) and "Ashik-Kerib" (1988). Parajanov's contribution to the art of cinema is first and foremost his original poetic film-language, highly valued by his contemporaries. His aesthetic system also includes plastic art, based on traditions of Armenian, Eastern and European art.

The basis of the museum collection consists of more than 600 works of Parajanov, a large part of which were exhibited in Yerevan in the Museum of Armenian Folk Art in 1988 and 1989, and also the furnishings of his Tbilisi home and his personal belongings, which were brought to Yerevan by the will of the director during his lifetime. An extensive correspondence of the director, including letters from L. Brik, A. Tarkovsky, J. Nikulin, V. Katanyan and other cultural figures is also kept in the museum's archives. The museum's exposition consists of more than 250 works, documents and photographs. Two memorial rooms are also re-created.

Parajanov's works - assemblages, flat and three-dimensional collages, drawings, dolls and film sketches- are his distinctive reaction to to life and events around him, his plastic perception of the world. The artist's work has no direct analogies in world art and amazes with its fantazy, wit and artistry. The use of various materials and objects imparts to it a special charm and brilliance. Many works were created during his imprisonment: the Soviet system suspended Parajanov from shooting films for about 15 years, 5 of which (1973-1977 and 1982) were spent in prisons and "camps of severe regime."

In the museum Parajanov's own artistic and display principles are used. Within eight years the museum has organized 26 exhibitions, including those at Cannes, Thessalonici, Tokyo, Moscow, Rome, Tehran, Peking and other cities.

Parajanov Museum is one of the most popular museums in Yerevan. It is open seven days a week from 10.30 a.m. till 5.00 p.m.

9 January 2004 the marked the 80th Anniversary of Sergei Parajanov’s birth which was celebrated at the Hollywood Entertainment Museum that presently exhibits collages and drawings created by Parajanov. Museum’s Jan-Christopher Horak opened the evening which included the appearances of the Consul General of the Republic of Armenia, of Parajanov Museum curator, of Archbishop Hovnan Derderian’s representative, as well as the reading of the letter from Parajanov’s family, followed by the speech of actor Levani Outchaneichvili of Parajanov’ s LEGEND OF SURAM FORTRESS, and continued with the speech of the great photographer Yuri Mechitov who delivered the regards of Sofiko Chiaureli from Tbilisi, Georgia and the evening beautifully concluded with the marvelous speech of Mikhail Vardanov director of PARAJANOV: THE LAST SPRING. Celebration carries on every Sunday with Parajanov screenings and the complimenting exhibit at the Hollywood Entertainment Museum.

Museum's exhibitions in 1990 - 2001