Vernissage (Yerevan)

Vernisage ( Armenian Վերնիսաժ ) is a market located in the center of Yerevan between Hanrapetutyan , Khanjyan , Aram and Pavstos Buzand streets ( Kentron district). The name of the market comes from the French word vernissage . The market mainly presents products of various types of traditional works of Armenian art: carpets , handmade clothes, souvenirs , paintings ^{[1] [2]} .

Yerevan Vernissage is an open-air exhibition market functioning on weekends. It was created in the 1980s by Armenian artists who began to showcase their work in the square next to the Union of Artists of Armenia (the current Charles Aznavour Square ). Others used the park next to the Komitas State Conservatory to showcase their work. Subsequently, the spontaneous “Vernissage” was transferred to the Martiros Saryan park in front of the opera house . The market gradually expanded and, finally, moved to Aram and Buzand streets and occupied a space of more than three hectares from the metro station “ Republic Square ” to the statue of Vardan Mamikonyan. However, some artists still use Saryan Park to showcase their work ^[3] .

In addition to paintings, on the market you can find everything that is characteristic of flea markets: carved products , traditional Armenian carpets , old collections of coins and medallions, books, jewelry, musical instruments, electronics and even pets ^{[4] [5] [6 ] ] [7] [8]} .