Sincerity to himself and to painting

The first solo exhibition of Raffi Ghazaryan opened at “Albert and Tove Boyajian” exhibition hall of State Academy of Fine Arts of Armenia. Raffi is an undergraduate student of Painting department preparing his diploma work defense for the current year. Nor the exhibition neither the works introduced are entitled. The communication between the visitor and paintings isn’t complicated; it is close, free and direct.

Raffi is a painter of color and mind. Bright and pastel color shades of the palette are mainly used. The settlements depicted in one of the series, the urban scenes in crimson sunsets are expressive, filled with emotional shades of color; the contrasts smoothly complement one another creating an impression of a movement. A whole series dedicated to the Army theme reflects the soldier’s daily routine with its typical and natural manifestations. His sketches are delicate and sensitive.

Raffi is an apprentice of SAFAA rector Aram Isabekyan and lecturer Arthur Hovhannisyan who pass their experience and mastery to the younger artist.

Aram Isabekyan who is always honest and generous in his attitude to talented and truly good works, this time spoke with an utmost inspiration about Raffi’s paintings and his human features, characterizing the latter with an unusual expression “golden boy”. “I am happy to have such a student. I have had many brilliant students before and now. And I am always amazed at how gifted and good people they are which is very important.

I extend many thanks to his family, parents, grandfather and those who brought him up as a good man. Raffi has served in the army. I have met those who consider that army hinders the artist and his creative work. It is totally wrong; it doesn’t interfere and today’s exhibition can serve as a vivid example of it. All his sketches were made while he was in the army, the environment and numerous compositions that were transformed into paintings would serve as a basis material for him. I have never encountered such an attitude before, when an artist can gather so much material form the Army years and which is so full of art. Raffi is in search, and has recorded interesting developments. When talent is combined with diligence it always leads to such results,” said Aram Isabekyan.

Raffi has had successful participation in a number of exhibitions among them International ones as well. He made a voluntary choice to leave his education unfinished and pass to a military service. He remembers the years in the Army with love: “Painting is not a compulsion, it is free and you can do whatever you want. I want to depict the world around me the way I feel it”.

It’s already six years we have known Raffi and have been witnesses from the very start of the process of his formation. Through this whole period he has left no doubt in his dedication to this world and this mission,” Arthur Hovhannisyan said.

The only wish we have for this talented artist is, as Aram Isabekyan put it, not to lose the positive creative impulse and find his audience who appreciate and perceive his art as far as this is the motivating factor and provision to be always engaged in the work you love.

Melanya Badalyan
Translated by Naira Stepanyan