 Varoujan
Setian
Biography
1927 - Born in Beirut.
Early age he began his photographic career at Sarafian institute.
1957
- Was manager of photographic department at Eastern Photographic
Company ,“EPCO” in Bab Idriss.
1959
- He establishes his photographic center “Middle East Photographic
Laboratories”,on Weygand Street in Bab-idriss.
1962
- He becomes the appointed photographer of the Rahbani Brothers’
theatrical company.
1966
- First exposition of Lebanese pictures in Hotel Phoenicia
,under the patronage of National Council of Tourism.
1967
- First prize in Tokyo, “Union International de Organismes Official
du Tourisme”.
1968
- Invited to Armenia to take photos of the historic sites
and portraits of the intellectuals.
1969
- Exposition of Armenian landscapes and portraits of Armenian prominent
figures.in Memorial hall in down town.
1971--1972
- Makes the portraits of famous, Lebanese and international poets,
politicians, artists and presidents: Presidents: Alfred Naccash,
Camil Chamoun, Charle Helou, Bashir Gemayel, Amin Gemayel. Politicians:
Charle Malik, Kamal Joumblat, Abdallah Yafeeh, Pierre Gemayel, Kamal
Assad, Ghasan Touweineh, Majeed Arslan, General Boustany, Michel
Khoury, Michel Eddeh, Raymond Eddeh, Immam Mousa Sader, Hassan Khaled.
Intellectuals and artists: Mikael Naeemeh, Saeed Akl, George
Shehadeh, Nadia Touweineh, Najeeb Hankash, Feiruz, Sabbah, Halim
Jourdak, Wajih Nakhleh, Moris Bejard, Herbert Von Karayan, Mother
Theresa and many others.
1971
- Invited to Emirates to photograph King Faysal, King Khaled and
King Fahed, also Al Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan, and princes of Qatar
and Kouwait and other personalities.
1972
- His first book issued in Paris “Liban Terre de Rancontre” ,“Lebanon
Crossroad of Mankind”
1975
- During the war he lost his laboratory in Weygand Street
in Bab-Idriss.
1977
- Was invited to Iran,Tchougha and Sbahan,to photograph historic
places ,churches and relics.
1980
- Exposition of 99 Lebanese flowers in Salle Culturelle,Antelias.
1981
- Establishes his photographic center in Zalka.
1991
- The mentioned center was called “Varoujan Photographic Center
and Art Gallery.”
1995
- Was invited to Syria to photograph The president Hafez Al-Asaad.
And during his mission he took Pictures of Prime Minister Abdel
Halim Khaddam and the General Moustafa Tlass.
1997
- “Liban Lebanon” Varoujan’s book was issued by Saad Kiwan.
2000
- Invited to Syria to Photograph the president Bashar AL_Asaad.
2002
- Was decorated with 2 decorations: first by Hamazkaine Cultural
Association and the second ,”St. Mesrob”.by Catolicoss Aram the
first during a magnificent ceremony in Cilicia Museum Hall, Antelias.
2002
- Was decorated “La Grande Medaille D’or avec Ruban” from the Comite
de Recompenses de L’oeuvre Humanitaire etMerite Philanthropique.
2003
- Passed away in Beirut. On his funeral day he got Al-Arz decoration
from the president of the Republic Emile Lahoud.
Extract
of Article in French:
L’Orient Le Jour – Vendredi 22 Mars 2002
Hommage – Un artiste qui a su capter l’âme du Liban
… “
Lorsque durant la guerre le studio de Varoujan Setian à Bab
Idriss a pris feu, le journaliste Selim El Laouzé avait titré:
“L’art a brûlé, mais l’artiste demeure”, a rappelé
Georges Apelian, dans son mot de présentation du photographe.
En effet, en s’installant à Zalka, Varoujan ouvrit une seconde
fois non plus seulement un studio, ou une galerie, mais un centre
d’accueil pour toutes les disciplines artistiques”. Hagop Guloyan
a retracé longuement le parcours de Varoujan Setian, qualifiant
son travail de mémoire de l’histoire nationale contemporaine.
“Les archives photographiques de Varoujan Setian recèlent
tous les événements de l’histoire du Liban, ses célébrités,
ses hommes politiques, ses “stars”, à l’instar de Feyrouz
ou des frères Rahbani…”
… «
Varoujan s’est distingué des autres photographes du monde
Arabe par sa démarche de photographe indépendant.
Il n’attendait pas que les clients viennent a lui. Il allait lui-même
à la rencontre de ses «modèles», des personnalités
qu’il jugeait intéressantes, comme Camille Chamoun, Mikhaïl
Neaymé, l’Imam Moussa Sadr, Pierre, Amine et Béchir
Gemayel… Par ailleurs, Varoujan Setian contrairement à ses
pairs ne s’est pas contenté de faire des photos en studio,
il a fait de tout le Liban son studio ».
… «
Varoujan a été fidèle à sa partie d’origine
véhiculée par sa langue maternelle ainsi qu’à
sa terre d’élection, le Liban ».
… « Cet
artiste a été durant près d’un demi-siècle
l’un des plus actifs ambassadeurs libanais. Il a su capturer l’esprit
même du Liban ».
►► Some of the artist's
artwork
►► Arabic Extracts
of Articles
Phone: 961 3 305 268 - 1 895 316
Contact:
varoujan_photo_art_gallery@yahoo.com
|
