Sergei Parajanov Museum

The Sergei Parajanov Museum in the Dzoragyugh district of Yerevan, Armenia, is devoted to the Soviet-Armenian filmmaker and artist Sergei Parajanov, director of Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors and The Colour of Pomegranates. The museum opened in the late 1980s after his death and occupies a house and gardens set above the Hrazdan gorge. The collection comes largely from the artist's own work and belongings and includes his collages, assemblages, drawings, dolls, hats, ceramics and antiques, many created during his years of imprisonment, along with film stills, letters, costumes and personal items. The displays are crowded and theatrical, much in the spirit of his films, and a visitor can see how everyday objects were turned into art. The museum also screens film programmes and hosts exhibitions of contemporary work, and the courtyard holds sculptural pieces and a small garden. A visit takes one to one and a half hours, and guided tours in foreign languages are available for an additional fee, which adds helpful context on Parajanov's life, his arrest, and his friendships with other artists. Weekday afternoons are generally quiet, and the museum is small enough that a few tour groups can fill the rooms. Opening times vary across sources, with the museum website listing daily opening and last entry at 17:15, so visitors should confirm before travelling. Admission is modest, and entry is free on the last Saturday of each month. The museum is a short taxi ride from Republic Square and sits close to the gorge, with views over the Hrazdan river valley.