International Exhibition in Australia Explores Armenian Experience Through Art

An international art exhibition titled “Crossing Horizons” brought together works by visual artist Angela Agaian, known professionally as Angy Buonarrotti, presenting a body of work shaped by years of travel, cultural exchange and personal reflection.

The exhibition examined themes of memory, identity and the human experience, offering audiences insight into how contemporary art can respond to both global events and personal histories.

Featuring works created across multiple countries, Crossing Horizons reflected the artist’s international career and evolving artistic approach. Drawing on experiences from more than 60 countries and exhibitions across Europe, the Caucasus and Australia, the show emphasized art’s role in encouraging cross-cultural dialogue and addressing shared human concerns.

Agaian’s work often focused on three recurring visual elements: faces, animals and maps. Faces conveyed intimacy and emotional tension, while animals symbolized instinct and unspoken truths. Maps extended beyond geography to represent memory, history, conflict and belonging, linking individual experience with collective history.

Although Agaian was not born in Armenia and has never lived there, the country played a central role in the exhibition. A dedicated series of drawings addressed recent events in Armenian history, particularly the war in Artsakh. The works sought to preserve memory, acknowledge resilience and prompt reflection on personal and collective identity.

Rather than presenting the show solely as a visual display, Crossing Horizons functioned as a journey across cultures and histories. Agaian’s work emphasized shared human experiences over division, using imagery to explore themes of displacement, survival and emotional vulnerability.

The exhibition encouraged viewers to engage closely with the works and reflect on their own connections to memory and identity, underscoring art’s capacity to foster empathy and understanding.

Angela Agaian, who works under the name Angy Buonarrotti, is an Armenian-born artist from Tbilisi, Georgia. Her interest in art began at age 15 after attending a solo exhibition by Salvador Dalí. With her family’s support, she pursued formal training in drawing before continuing her studies abroad.

After graduating from the Academy of Fine Arts in Turin with honors, Agaian moved to Milan, where she worked in fashion and design. In 2019, she expanded her practice to include tattoo art. Her work now spans drawing, design and tattooing, addressing themes such as human relationships, geopolitics, trust and everyday life.

Agaian has held solo and group exhibitions in Italy, Greece, Armenia, Georgia and Australia, reflecting her growing international presence. The title Crossing Horizons reflects the artist’s belief in art’s ability to cross borders, connect people and carry memory across time and place.

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