YEREVAN—”Eternal Threads,” a solo exhibition by artist Lizzy Vartanian, opened on November 8 at Kitchen Lab in Yerevan. This compelling exhibition, which runs until November 16, explores themes of family, memory and migration through reimagined photographs and embroidery. This deeply personal collection captures the journey of her ancestors, who fled the Armenian Genocide, found refuge in Syria and Lebanon and ultimately settled in new homelands across the world.
Born in London in 1993 and currently based in Yerevan, the artist draws inspiration from her multicultural heritage across Lebanon, Armenia and Syria. Each artwork brings family photos to life through intricate embroidery, transforming faded 20th century images into vibrant visual stories. The exhibition traces the journey of Vartanian’s family across generations, beginning with her great-grandmother Emelia’s flight from Ainteb to Syria around 1920/1921, where she found refuge. The family established roots in Syria, where her grandmother Osanna was born in 1924, and later in Lebanon, where her mother Vivienne was born in 1954. Due to growing instability in Beirut following the Six-Day War, they moved to Australia in 1969, ultimately settling in London in 1983. This narrative captures the resilience and enduring legacy of a family shaped by migration and adaptation across borders and decades.
“Eternal Threads” offers a personal reflection on migration, heritage and resilience, inviting audiences to connect with the artist’s story and the universal experience of movement across borders.
Exhibition hours are Monday-Friday from 2:00-8:00 p.m. and Saturday from 2:00-7:00 p.m.
Embroidery workshop
On November 17, join Lizzy Vartanian for a unique embroidery workshop starting at 4:00 p.m. In this 2.5-hour hands-on session, participants will learn how to transform a photo into a beautiful embroidered artwork. Vartanian will guide attendees step-by-step, sharing her expertise in using stitches to bring personal stories to life.
To participate, email contact.kitchen.lab@gmail.com, and attach the photo you’d like to embroider. All materials will be provided.
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