Whether banging on pots and pans in the canals of Venice, or referencing the flaws within the institution of marriage, artist Narine Arakelian is no stranger to the unique and unprecedented.  

Arakelian’s art hones in on social commentary and the exploration of gender identity. The Armenian interdisciplinary feminist artist does this through performance art, installation art and environmental art. 

“It is the interdisciplinary approach that allows me as an artist to create an illusory world of a new reality,” Arakelian stated. “And also to adapt psychologically and try to accept this new reality.” 

The artist’s talents don’t stop there, however — Arakelian has vast experience in painting, sculpture, video art, and isn’t afraid to speak up for social justice. 

“My performance art brings together and explores issues such as race, LGBTQ, body positivity, and explores the perfection of womanhood through identities,” Arakelian said. 

Her performance, “The Cast Iron Pots and Pans,” that took place in 2019, paid homage to the protest of women in the Armenian Revolution, which consisted of them banging pots and pans together outside of their windows. 

Arakelian called to the stories of these women and their determination, undertaking and courage by collecting over 50 volunteers to bang pots and pans together through the canals of Venice. 

The social justice advocate has also exhibited large-scale pieces such as her infamous “L’Illusion du Marriage.” The piece was featured at the 57th Venice Biennale, located at the home of fellow masterpieces from Tintoretto.

“L’Illusion du Marriage” was inspired by Arakelian’s own beliefs that while marriage is largely a bureaucratic process, love is everywhere. 

“Marriage is an illusion, but it’s an illusion about something true. It’s a tradition that speaks of love,” Arakelian said in a video with Esquire. 

Digital innovation, mythology and nature will be seamlessly blended together at the “Metamorphosis of Aphrodite’s Stones” exhibition this upcoming month.

“Metamorphosis of Aphrodite’s Stones: Narine Arakelian’s Journey from Myth to Metaverse” will invite viewers to ponder modern-day powers like technology, while also reflecting on the enduring power of myth.

“We live in a world of myths, as strange as it may seem,” Arakelian stated. “If we turn to mass media art, we will see a huge amount of modern mythology being created.” 

Arakelian creates phygitalism art because it allows her to transfer the feeling of nature into digital realities. The artist emphasizes the importance of the Metaverse in creating more accessible art. 

The Metaverse “allows people from different places and time points” to enter Arakelian’s art space, she said. 

The immersive experience will challenge conventional boundaries known by most artists, according to a press release. 

“Rather than be pigeonholed by labels, most practitioners favour the simple term: artist.” Arakelian stated in a post on Instagram. 

The centerpiece of the show is artist Arakelian swimming amidst the ancient stones, transcending time with the ever present representation of transformation. Arakelian connects herself with the larger scope of life through this transformative act.

“I was very interested in exploring materials that metaphorically embodied the amorphous state of matter such as water and earth,” Arakelian stated. “It’s a new opportunity for a spiritual message that I can share with the world as an artist.” 

The exhibition is built on one thing: an allegory. 

The allegorical basis of the exhibition is centered around Aphrodite’s Rock, a hotspot in Greek and Cypriot mythology.

The ambiguity of Aphrodite’s connection with this rock highlights the persistence and influential powers of myth. 

Historically, ancient stones serve as relics of the natural world and mythical world. However, in “Metamorphosis of Aphrodite’s Stones,” stones become the representation of renewable resources and the intersection between art and technology.

The stones embody Arkelian’s vision of fusing the natural and digital realms together, creating a timeless ode to the harmony of myth and modernity. 

Arakelian was inspired to create “Metamorphosis of Aphrodite’s Stones” by ideas of Hellenism and Greek mythology relating to gender and identity.

“The word metamorphosis signifies in the title of the exhibition that we are living a process of evolving into a virtual world,” Arakelian stated. 

Arakelian draws inspiration from both her Siberian roots and her worldly experiences to create her art, according to the State Surikov Institute graduate’s website. 

Arakelian has a plethora of public performance experiences, including her headlining in the Armenia Pavilion for the 58th Venice Biennale and showcasing her artwork in a solo exhibition at the Palazzo Contarini del Bovolo — one of Venice’s most iconic landmarks, according to Arakelian’s website. 

The artist’s part in “The Pharos Flower” exhibition included her own performance of “The Bloom” that transformed her into a symbol of an ancient marble statue. 

Arakelian feels that humans transform reality through being energy waves, according to her website. 

Arakelian hopes that viewers will have both personal and unforgettable experiences after seeing her work. 

“It will be an amazing new experience and people’s feedback will make me realize how I can develop further and what I can do for people so that they can discover themselves even more through my art,” Arakelian stated. 

“Metamorphosis of Aphrodite’s Stones: Narine Arakelian’s Journey from Myth to Metaverse” will be on display at the Modern Art Museum Yerevan from Jan. 25 to July 8, 2024.