March 20, 2012 - 15:31 AMT
Tankian, Egoyan to discuss Armenian Genocide impact

Two days before the anniversary of the Armenian Genocide of 1915, two artists of Armenian descent will come together to discuss its lasting impact.

The Hammer Museum, LA, will present filmmaker Atom Egoyan and musician Serj Tankian in conversation, on Sunday, April 22, Asbarez reported.

Atom Egoyan’s critically acclaimed films include Chloe, Speaking Parts, The Adjuster, Exotica, The Sweet Hereafter (nominated for two Academy Awards), and the award-winning Ararat, a meditation on the Armenian Genocide. His work has been featured in international retrospectives including at the Centre Pompidou in Paris and at the Venice Biennale.

Serj Tankian is a Lebanese-born Armenian American singer, songwriter, activist, and composer. Tankian has released five albums with the rock band System of a Down, one with Arto Tuncboyacıyan, and two solo albums. In 2002 Tankian and Rage Against the Machine/Audioslave guitarist Tom Morello co-founded a nonprofit activist organization, Axis of Justice. In 2011 Tankian was awarded the Armenian Prime Minister’s Medal for his contributions to the recognition of the Armenian Genocide and the advancement of music.

The Hammer Museum, a public arts unit of the University of California, Los Angeles, is dedicated to exploring the diversity of artistic expression through the ages. Its collections, exhibitions, and programs span the classic to the cutting-edge in art, architecture, and design, recognizing that artists play a crucial role in all aspects of culture and society.