Organised in partnership with the Parajanov Museum in Yerevan, Armenia, A Right to Dream presents his art in the full context of his life. It includes collages, assemblages, drawings, and film works, alongside archival images and documentation. Parajanov’s career was marked by both extraordinary creative output and severe repression: creative censorship, imprisonment for his sexuality, and a ban on filmmaking. Despite these obstacles, he continued to create, often from limited materials, producing works that inspired generations of artists and earned the admiration and lifelong support of peers, including Andrei Tarkovsky, Yves Saint Laurent, Louis Aragon, Federico Fellini, and many others.
Presented in Södertälje — home to one of the largest Armenian communities in Sweden — the exhibition underscores Parajanov’s enduring influence and contemporary relevance. Celebrated as an artist who embodied multiple cultures — Armenian, Ukrainian, and Georgian — his work transcended borders and identities. At a moment demanding resilience and vision, when it is essential to stand for our opinions, protect our humanity, and meet challenges head-on, his life and art remind us to keep dreaming.

Curated by: Sona Stepanyan