The Official Website of Mkrtich Tonoyan

I am Mkrtich Tonoyan, an Armenian artist. I was born in Yerevan in 1974 (at the dawn of Soviet Empire), on 21 September (the day which later became the Independence Day of Armenia). 1990-1995 I attended Terlemezyan Art College , in 1996-2002 the Visual Art Faculty of Academy of Fine Arts in Yerevan . 1990-1994, parallel to my study, I participated in Kharabakh War. I went through all horrors of war-death, destruction, despair… I lost the best friends and was wounded myself. Being on borderline situation gave me the privilege to understand the value of life.

I had articles and TV-talks on nowadays modern art problems in Armenia and around problems of local art and world movements. From 1994 I was the assistant of famous Armenian avant-garde artist Alexander Melkonyan who is the founder of a new direction of plastic conceptual art in Armenia , called Military Art.

As a professional artist I participated in many exhibitions and art festivals. Currently I cooperate with local and regional art centers and galleries.

I am married, have two daughters.

Experience	2007-present “Expert Centre of Cultural Values” Main Specialist 2005–2006 “The Cadet School” Visual Art Teacher 2001–2004 “Tufenkian Charitable Foundation” Art advisor, Visual Art teacher 2000-2001 “Bari Or” weekly Chief editor 1998-2000 The house of chamber music after Komitas Stage Designer – Painter 1997-2000 Yerevan State Opera Yerevan, Armenia Stage Designer – Painter 1996-1997 “Yerevanian Orer” daily newspaper Yerevan , Armenia Art editor 1994-1997 The house of officers of Yerevan The assistant to the chief on art questions
Education	1996–2002 State Academy of Art Yerevan, Armenia Faculty of Visual Art, Fine Art Department, Diploma 1990-1995 Yerevan Art College Yerevan, Armenia Fine Art Department, Diploma 1985-1989 School of Art Yerevan, Armenia Diploma 1980–1990 Secondary school #125 Diploma
Military service	1993-1994 Military forces of the Republic of Armenia Lieutenant
Languages	Fluent in Armenian, Russian. Good in English
Marital status	Married, two children
Exhibitions	Since 1996 participated in many festivals, exhibitions. Since 2005 member of Union of Artists of Armenia
Public Activities	2000-present “AKOS” Cultural NGO Founder 1994-2000 “National Legion” Art Centre Founder and Curator 1992-1998 “Young Conservative Union” Founder and Coordinator 1990-1992 “Youth Organization Of Physical Culture” Instructor
Publishing Activities	2003 “Didn't Come Down Off The Mountains” Alexander Melkonyan “AKOS” publishing house Editor, Painter 2002 “Back Home” Essays and short stories “AKOS” publishing house Author 1998 “The Character Of Armenian Nation” Levon Melik-Shahnazaryan “Tirast” publishing house Painter 1996-present Wrote analytic articles for the following newspapers and magazines “Orran” Daily newspaper Yerevan “Erkrapah” Weekly Yerevan “ Bari Or” weekly Yerevan “Yerevanian Orer” daily newspaper Yerevan “Hay Zinvor” Weekly Yerevan “Garun” magazine Yerevan “Hayatsk Yerevanits” magaziane
Interests	Philosophy, History.
Tips	The only culture of the world I consider the human being, who creates - a godlike person with his dreaming soul and his inner emotional world. I dream to live and create in a new civilization, where will dominate only Love and Creative Soul.