Miriams Farben

The Armenian Mariam Aslamazyan (1907-2006) is considered one of the most important female painters of the Soviet era. Her life was characterized by the tension between artistic freedom and political appropriation. Even as a young woman, she fought with her sister Yeran to study art - and was kicked out of university thirteen times before she was finally allowed to study thanks to the support of Lenin's widow.

In her biographical novel "Miriam's Colors", author Iris Lemanczyk recounts the extraordinary life of this woman, who became a celebrated model artist despite obstacles and restrictions. The novel impressively shows how Mariam Aslamazyan never lost her passion for painting and how she found her way between the conflicting priorities of personal expressiveness and ideological constraints.

During the reading, selected passages will be presented that bring Mariam's struggle, her passion and her courage to life. In the subsequent discussion, there will be an opportunity to talk to the author about her research, the process of writing the novel and the significance of Aslamazyan for Armenian and international art history.

Copyright: AGBW, Iris Lemanczyk