YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 21, NOYAN TAPAN. An exhibition of works created by German artist Max Ernst, a founder of surrealism, opened at the National Picture Gallery of Armenia on February 21. The exhibition was organized with the sponsorship of the German embassy in Armenia and the German Institute of Foreign Relations and will last until March 18. The German Ambassador to Armenia Heike Renate Peitsch said at the opening ceremony that works of Max Ernst have been displayed all over the world for nearly 30 years but Yerevan will become the last haven for these paintings considered as surrealism masterpieces. "I am glad to have the opportunity to open an exhibition of such a great painter as Ernst in Armenia - homeland of artists," she said. According to the picture gallery director Paravon Mirzoyan, it is for the first time that masterpieces of Max Ernst are presented to Armenian art lovers. Such events allow the Armenian public to become more acquainted with the world art. The artist's graphic works and his paintings for books of famous German and French writers are displayed at the exhibition. Max Ernst's works are a unique combination of surrealism and graphic art where metaphysical, geometric images and space bodies harmoniously mix with fabulous ones. Influenced by ideas of surrealism, the painter created "frottage" painting that aims to "arouse inspiration" through art.

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