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ARMENIAN ARTISTS IN THE DIASPORA

 THE ARMENIAN PIONEERS AND THEIR INFLUENCE  

PART EIGHT

By Maximillien de La Croix de Lafayette

Picnic on the bank of Kura by Panos Nersissian, 1860

European art of painting strongly and vividly influenced the pioneers of Armenian contemporary art. Almost, all the most famous Armenian painters studied art in Europe and developed their talents and craft on the hands on European masters, and particularly French, Italian and Russian master painters. Among those distinguished Armenian painters were: Aivazovsky, Ervand Kochard, Tigran Polat, Gevork Bashinjaghyan, Assadour Bedzdiguian, Carzou, Vardkes Sureniantz, Jansem, Edgar Chahine, Yeghishe Tatevosyan, Zakar Zakarian, Sarkiss Khatachadourian, Charles Atamian, Stepan Aghadjanyan, Panos Terlemezian, Hovsep Pushman, Gevork Bashinjahian, Charles Atamian, Vartan Mahokian, Panos Terlemezyan and hundreds of other notable artists.

Echoes of Glory, Hovsep Pushman

Many Armenian artists have studied in Paris at the prestigious Julian Academy, in private ateliers and studios on the hands of illustrious French artists. At that time in France, the esthetic concepts of art in painting and sculpture were based on  “realism”. The most illustrious academy of art in Europe was Academie Julian, the corner stone of “Realism” cemented by Gustave Coubert  who deeply influenced French, European and Armenian artists.

Immortality, Hovsep Pushman

Thanks to Coubert’s influence, many young Armenian artists  turned into pioneers of the neo-realism and neo- romanticism school and methods of art in painting, sculpture and graphics, such as:  Edgar Chahine, Vartkes Surenyants, Sarkiss Katchadourian, Egishe Tadevosyan, Raphael Shishimanian, Yervant Demirdjian, Essaian, Tigrane Essaian,  Jean Alhazhian, Armina Babaian, Arshak Fetvadjian,  Melkon Kebadjian, Armenag Missirian (Armiss), Puzant Topalian, Zareh Moustafian, Gabriel Harentz,  Richard Jeranian, Papaz, Berdj Kosdanian, Ardavatz Berberian, Arshag, Kmayak Hagobian,  S. Agadjanian, Grigor Sharbabchian and P. Terlemezian. This list should include Armenian-Lebanese artists such as: Boghos Guiragossian, Armenag Missirian, A. Berlian, V. Barsoumian, H. Torossian, J. Kazandjian, A. Alecian, Arshag and T. Daderian. In Italy, Charles Atamian excelled in depicting themes of seashores, little children and breezes. Gregorio Sciltian became the pillar of neo-realism and known for his flowers, fishes, vegetables and plants paintings. In Romania, Aram Gharibian, Bardough Vardanian and  Hrant Avakian became a household name. In Russia, influenced by the “peredizhnink” concept, magnificent Armenian artists made their mark on the landscape of “realism”, to name a few: Vrtanes Akhikian, Garabet Chirakhian, Davit Okroian, Khachatur Ter Minasian, Harutioun Shamshinian and Gevork Gabriellian.

The Armenian art community in Egypt included famous Armenian artists such as:  Onnig Avedissian, Achod Zorian, Gregoire Meguerdichian,  Puzant Godjamanian and Simon Samsonian. In other parts of the world, a considerable number of  Diasporan Armenian artists prosper, to name a few: Narutiun Minassian, Sarguis Achdjian, Arsene Tatosian, Assadour Baharian, Onning Atamian and Edman Ayvazian.

THE TIFLIS GROUP

Armenian artists in Tiflis were active, and thanks to their commitment, the first Armenian Art Association was formed in 1915 in Tiflis followed in 1923, by the Association of Armenian Painters  in Erevan and two art schools in Yerevan and Leninaka. The leader of the Tiflis group was Alexander Bazhbeul-Melikian, a very unique artist living and metamorphosing in his own universe. His inspirational source were the woman figure, her body, her beauty and her “curves”. He is unique, for he invented a special world for his worshiped goddesses and gracious heroines who freely flirted on flamboyant and radiant backgrounds. Among the most illustrious Tiflis group artists were: The great Martiros Sarayan,  Hakobjian Gharibjanian, Panos Terlemezian, Hagop Kodjoyan, Yervant Demirdjian, Sarkis Khatchadourian,

A whole universe of magnificent Armenian artists emerged in the Diaspora. They were obsessed by the remembrance of their lost neighborhood, friends, childhood, Mount Ararat, Lake Sevan, Armenian churches, the concept of “light”, the Katchkars and Armenian religious themes.  This nostalgic obsession gave birth to the new Surrealism movement in Armenia and abroad. It was the surrealism of Armenia, and not Dalli’s surrealism, for it was nourished with tortured souls, fear, sorrow, memories of their struggles against the Turks and the loss of the freedom of their beloved country. It was a humanistic and nostalgic surrealism born out of inner human feelings and not from” phantasmagorical” visions. "I was born in Asia Minor," said the famous Armenian-American writer William Saroyan, "and therefore in my head the real and the allegorical are intermixed."  Among the most visible masters of that movement were: Leon Tutundjian (The founder of Abstract Surrealism), Arshile Gorky (Vosdanik Manuk Adoyan) and Carzou (Karnik Zulumian).

The monastery of Tatevby Panos Terlemezian, 1929

The picture of present-day Armenian art would be incomplete without a glance at the culture of the Armenian Diaspora. Nowadays, a great number of Armenian artists live and work all around the world. Although, their work now essentially belongs to their adopted countries, their style and artistic evocation maintain straight  links to Armenia, its history and tradition. Among the most remarkable Diaspora artists were Carzou (Garnik Zulumyan),  Arshile Gorky, Vardkes Surenyantz and Grikor Khandjian. However, a considerable number of Armenian painters who perfectly blended into the culture of their adopted countries tended to free themselves from an Armenian ethnic art conformity. Most certainly, they developed their own European style but, deep down in their heart and the intimacy of their colors, their artistic sensitivity and patriotic visionary nostalgia toward Armenia were never dormant. Some of the most famous ones were Zakar Zakarian, Charles Atamian, Hovsep Pushman and Edgar Chahine.