AGBU Sydney Showcases the Art & Design of Kevork Shadoyan

During November and December 2007, AGBU Sydney hosted Kevork Shadoyan
for a series of seven events entitled “The Armenian Silk Road,” which
attracted over 1,200 attendees and showcased the fashion, art and ideas
of an artist who predominantly uses silk as his medium of expression.

On November 3, local Armenians gathered for a fashion show at the AGBU
Center by the Syrian-born designer who has received training at
institutes in Beirut and Yerevan. No stranger to integrating traditional
Armenian styles with a modern sensibility, Shadoyan regularly shows his
creations in Armenia and his clothes are featured in various Yerevan
boutiques. The audience was impressed with his contemporary creations
that made them aware of a new breed of Armenian fashion.

Almost two weeks later, on November 16, the city’s Armenian community
gathered for another display of talent from the 33-year-old artist.
Shadoyan’s unique artwork, which colors, paints and collages silk, was
inspiring to those who attended.

Beginning with a cocktail reception, the exhibition was inaugurated with
short speeches by a number of community leaders, including Mistress of
Ceremonies Nora Bastajian; Most Reverend Krikor Youmoushakian, Pastor of
the Armenian Evangelical Church in Sydney; Hon. Gladys Berejiklian, NSW
Parliamentarian; and Aram Hagopian, Sydney Chapter vice-chair. The
three-day exhibition attracted over 300 guests to the AGBU Center.

On November 23, 24 and 28, Shadoyan visited the city’s AGBU Alexander
Day School, AGBU Alex Manoogian Saturday School, and St. Gregory
Armenian Catholic School to lead workshops with the students and educate
them about the beauty of silk.

In December, the “Armenian Silk Road” series continued with a lecture on
Wednesday, December 12, to over a hundred guests, and a second fashion
show on December 15 that attracted over 250 local Australian Armenians.