17.10.2025


Today, the Hakhnazarian family, residing in Germany, along with their relatives, visited the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute on a meaningful mission. Mrs. Margret Hakhnazarian and her daughters, Talin and Sharis, generously donated Minas Avetisyan’s painting “Lament-1915” to the museum. The artwork had originally been purchased in the early 2000s by the family’s late father, architect Armen Hakhnazarian, and had remained part of the family collection for nearly a quarter of a century.

“This donation is not only an enrichment of our museum’s collection; it is a step toward preserving and transmitting memory. It demonstrates that art can serve as a bridge; connecting past and present, victims and survivors, memory and justice,” said Edita Ghzoyan, Director of the Museum-Institute, welcoming the guests and expressing gratitude to the Hakhnazarian family.

Mrs. Margret Hakhnazarian emphasized that this day is both significant and memorable for their family. From now on, the museum-institute will play an important role in their family’s visits to Armenia. She recounted the tragic story of her husband’s extended family: Armen Hakhnazarian’s grandfather, Harutyun Hakhnazarian, his wife, their 10- and 12-year-old daughters, their 15-year-old son, and their nephew were among the victims of the December 24–25, 1919 genocide in the village of Agulis, Nakhichevan.

Miraculously, only Armen’s father, 18-year-old Hovhannes Hakhnazarian, and his elder sister, Hamaspyur, who was studying in Tiflis at the time survived.

Since the Armenian cemetery in Agulis was destroyed and no memorial exists there, Mrs. Margret and her daughters decided to dedicate Minas’ painting to the memory of their family and all the victims of the Agulis genocide. Museum Director Edita Ghzoyan read the full historical account, which will be displayed alongside the painting during the exhibition.

The idea to donate the painting came from Armen Hakhnazarian’s family friend and cartographer, Ruben Galchyan, who was also present at the ceremony. “I believe this painting is now in its rightful home, in the most appropriate place it could be,” Galchyan said, adding that he wished his friend Armen could have been present, as he would undoubtedly have supported this meaningful gesture.

Minas, whose own parents survived the 1915 genocide, created “Lament-1915” between 1961 and 1965 as an artistic expression of suffering, faith, and hope. In accordance with museum protocols, the painting underwent professional authentication prior to the donation, confirming its authorship by Minas Avetisyan.

At the conclusion of the ceremony, attendees visited the Armenian Genocide memorial and laid flowers at the Eternal Flame in honor of the victims.