For the first of three discussions in the series Common Ground, Shoghakat Mlké-Galstyan and Anna Provozin introduced us to their practice and spoke about their approaches to art in the context of war.

Art as a space for dialogue and healing: reflections from Armenia’s post-war reality
Starting from the question of what role art can embody in a war and post-war situation, Shoghakat spoke about memory preservation, artistic response, and how art can serve as a space for mediation and reflection, especially in times of wars. The presentation includes various perspectives from contemporary artists in Armenia, and focuses on how their work engages with displacement, absence, and collective healing.

Art as an instrument of healing and holding space together: experience of working with vulnerable youth and Ukrainian refugee teenagers in Moldova
What role does art play in the life of displaced Ukrainian youth, how can it be a funky tool for creating a change and how can it create common spaces for girls where their voices are heard? Anna shared several examples of projects from Ukraine and Moldova in which she was involved, showing how art helps create safe spaces for vulnerable youth and provides them with a platform to express themselves.

Shoghakat Mlke-Galstyan [AM] – Yerevan-based choreographer, performer, and cultural manager whose work bridges contemporary performing arts, research, and social engagement. She is the founder and soloist of MIHR Theatre, manager of Tiezerk Band, and lecturer at the Yerevan State Institute of Theatre and Cinematography.

Anna Provozin [MD] – artist based in Moldova, originally from Lviv, Ukraine. Anna works with teenagers from vulnerable groups at the Non-formal education center “Diversity”, using artistic methods to foster social change.

The event series Common Ground is part of the theme Culture wars in times of polarization – a cycle of conferences and meetings held in Chisinau throughout 2023-2025, in the framework of the research project Contemporary art, popular culture, and peacebuilding in Eastern Europe.

Presentations and discussions with the participation of facilitators and local guests focus on expanding the understanding of their artistic practice and how it relates to the theme of conflicts in their countries of origin (Armenia, Moldova, Serbia and Ukraine). In this section of the program, guests will talk about the role of artists and cultural workers in preventing, lessening, mitigating and working with the consequences of conflicts in society.