Armenian-Egyptian artist Anna Boghiguian is presenting a unique series at the National Gallery of Armenia in Yerevan. The exhibition, titled Weaving Culture, features 37 works that translate the natural history of the region into large-scale textile formats.
Boghiguian deviates from traditional rug design by shifting away from compact geometric motifs. Instead, her work presents figurative elements like celestial bodies, flora, and fauna in expansive watercolor-style patterns. Curator Nairi Khatchadourian describes the project as the invention of the watercolor carpet, where landscapes of mountains and gardens take center stage.
The installation is divided into three thematic acts across contiguous halls. The initial section focuses on the geography of Armenia, depicting dense mountain ranges in shades of blue, brown, and purple. A central piece features a prominent red sun positioned above a valley, grounding the abstract forms in recognizable natural features.
The second act transitions into a garden setting, characterized by large, blood-red flowers and depictions of local wildlife. Works such as Man with Pomegranate and Snake and The Sound of Nature is Music emphasize the artist's interest in the connection between natural forms and human presence. Storks appear throughout the series, serving as a recurring visual motif that mirrors the local environment of Armenia.
This exhibition marks a homecoming of sorts for the artist, who has traveled globally for five decades. The collection remains on display in Yerevan, offering a look at how cultural history can be reinterpreted through textile art. By moving from the small-scale geometry of classic rug-making to large, figurative displays, Boghiguian challenges how viewers perceive traditional narratives.