The subject of Anna Grigoryan’s experimental project, titled “Room,” is the physical, psychological, sexual violence, and femicide against women. Although the statistical data and narrative presented in the video are directly related to the realities of Armenia, it is well known that gender-based persecution, various practices of subordination, including physical violence, and the killing of women and girls are pervasive issues around the world. This underscores that the problem remains unresolved and is in desperate need of ongoing discussion and continuous struggle for its complete eradication.
Despite the focus of the video on violence, the artist refrains from using images that depict violence. The report on criminal cases related to the murder of women is paired with bodily figurative elements, staged by the artist as a metaphorical space where the discourse on gender, bodily boundaries, and patriarchal order is revived and recontextualized through artistic expression.
The public presentation of this project has been made possible within the framework of the “Art and Cultural Studies Laboratory” programs, thanks to the support of the Canada Council for the Arts.
After relocating from Armenia to Canada in 2012, Anna Grigoryan completed her studies in Art and Photography at Concordia University (2018). While she began developing her artistic practice in Montreal, she remains committed to the creation and realization of art projects in Armenia. The artist’s conceptual efforts are directed toward socio-economic, individual, and public welfare issues, as well as other politically charged matters.