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KEVORK KHATCHERIAN WEAVES BOLD STATEMENTS
by: Beckie Strum
The Daily Star (Lebanon)
October 18, 2012 Thursday
Jewelery sculptor best describes Kevork Khatcherian, whose intricate
metal work weaves tangled webs of sparkling bracelets, necklaces and
novelty items.
BEIRUT: Jewelery sculptor best describes Kevork Khatcherian, whose
intricate metal work weaves tangled webs of sparkling bracelets,
necklaces and novelty items. After working for more than 20 years
in Beirut and expanding to markets in Europe and the United States,
Khatcherian has opened a new gallery for his Arvesti brand in Corniche
al-Nahr, just a block away from the humble workshop where he began.
"I was born on this street," said Khatcherian with the soft-spoken
humility of a self-made man. "The old workshop was getting too small."
Khatcherian opened the doors of his new shop less than a month ago:
a bright, open gallery furnished from reused materials. Old Ottoman
tiles make up the floor and the decorative wooden ceiling is crafted
from wooden doors and shutters.
"Just like I started my business during the [Lebanese Civil] War,
I believe when one door closes another one opens. It's a circle -
and this is how I remember," he said looking up at the chestnut
colored doors above him.
The designer will hold a grand opening for the new gallery before
the end of the year, he said.
Colorful and highly detailed, much of the Arvesti jewelerycollection
turns floral patterns or subtle animal motifs into elaborate statement
pieces.
Twisting vines in the muted, metallic hues of copper and brass allow
gems and semiprecious stones in twinkling sky blues, amethyst and
lapis yellow to pop.
Khatcherian's grandfather also worked with copper and brass, making
bowls and other practical metal objects. A relic of his grandfather's
work sits encased at the shop.
One of his necklaces - all of which combine various shapes and natural
motifs - epitomized the complexity of Khatcherian's designs.
Delicate vines start at the back of the neck, turning to fern-like
leaves that break off into a perfect square of 49 rubies on one side
and abstract gem and metal designs on the other. The necklace comes
together at a double centerpiece: a large teardrop beside a long row
of multi-colored gems.
His work invokes a combination of artistic eras, but none more clearly
than pure Romanticism. The nods to nature, the impressive colored
gems set against dark metals and swirling details unite as if the
jeweleryon display were stained glass windows twisted and reshaped.
The designer cites nature and beautiful women as his primary
inspirations.
"I love nature, but I see that nature has gone from Lebanon,"
Khatcherian lamented. "They construct many new buildings but without
green spaces."
Khatcherian's work, however, is not for the minimalist.
He describes his typical customer as strong and unique. His
ostentatious designs likewise attract women with confidence and big
personalities.
Much of Arvesti is set in gold-plated metal. These bright pieces -
such as bracelets of golden wiry detail that trail 15 centimeters up
the arm - are not for a wallflower personality.
But a number of his designs also have a very bohemian feel. For
instance, dark-plated copper circles intersect to make up an armband
set with subtle green gems. Its lightness gives it versatility for
day or night.
A ring of a similar palette comprises a copper leaf for its band that
twists around the finger and set with a green bejeweled orb.
He also creates a variety of copper or brass wrist cuffs set with
gems in every shade.
Khatcherian's novelty items range from light, wiry flower holders
perfect for a bridal bouquet to dramatic silver collars meant to be
paired with an evening or bridal gown.
Even the chandelier in the gallery comes from his workshop.
Before opening the gallery off Armenia Street, Khatcherian had designed
jeweleryfrom a modest workshop just around the corner. Taking a tour
of his humble beginnings shows just how far Khatcherian had come.
Khatcherian started his craft as an employee at a gold shop in the
1980s. After two years of work, the Civil War forced the shop to
close. Unemployment led the young designer to set up his own workshop.
In 1995, Khatcherian held an exhibit at the French Cultural Center
in Beirut. He marks this as the turning point in his design career,
as it attracted local and international clients and media attention.
Since then, his designs have bejeweled regional celebrities such as
Fayrouz and the casts at Mansour Rahbani's theaters.
And for now, Khatcherian said he's looking forward to pushing further
into Western markets and to settling into his new space.
by: Beckie Strum
The Daily Star (Lebanon)
October 18, 2012 Thursday
Jewelery sculptor best describes Kevork Khatcherian, whose intricate
metal work weaves tangled webs of sparkling bracelets, necklaces and
novelty items.
BEIRUT: Jewelery sculptor best describes Kevork Khatcherian, whose
intricate metal work weaves tangled webs of sparkling bracelets,
necklaces and novelty items. After working for more than 20 years
in Beirut and expanding to markets in Europe and the United States,
Khatcherian has opened a new gallery for his Arvesti brand in Corniche
al-Nahr, just a block away from the humble workshop where he began.
"I was born on this street," said Khatcherian with the soft-spoken
humility of a self-made man. "The old workshop was getting too small."
Khatcherian opened the doors of his new shop less than a month ago:
a bright, open gallery furnished from reused materials. Old Ottoman
tiles make up the floor and the decorative wooden ceiling is crafted
from wooden doors and shutters.
"Just like I started my business during the [Lebanese Civil] War,
I believe when one door closes another one opens. It's a circle -
and this is how I remember," he said looking up at the chestnut
colored doors above him.
The designer will hold a grand opening for the new gallery before
the end of the year, he said.
Colorful and highly detailed, much of the Arvesti jewelerycollection
turns floral patterns or subtle animal motifs into elaborate statement
pieces.
Twisting vines in the muted, metallic hues of copper and brass allow
gems and semiprecious stones in twinkling sky blues, amethyst and
lapis yellow to pop.
Khatcherian's grandfather also worked with copper and brass, making
bowls and other practical metal objects. A relic of his grandfather's
work sits encased at the shop.
One of his necklaces - all of which combine various shapes and natural
motifs - epitomized the complexity of Khatcherian's designs.
Delicate vines start at the back of the neck, turning to fern-like
leaves that break off into a perfect square of 49 rubies on one side
and abstract gem and metal designs on the other. The necklace comes
together at a double centerpiece: a large teardrop beside a long row
of multi-colored gems.
His work invokes a combination of artistic eras, but none more clearly
than pure Romanticism. The nods to nature, the impressive colored
gems set against dark metals and swirling details unite as if the
jeweleryon display were stained glass windows twisted and reshaped.
The designer cites nature and beautiful women as his primary
inspirations.
"I love nature, but I see that nature has gone from Lebanon,"
Khatcherian lamented. "They construct many new buildings but without
green spaces."
Khatcherian's work, however, is not for the minimalist.
He describes his typical customer as strong and unique. His
ostentatious designs likewise attract women with confidence and big
personalities.
Much of Arvesti is set in gold-plated metal. These bright pieces -
such as bracelets of golden wiry detail that trail 15 centimeters up
the arm - are not for a wallflower personality.
But a number of his designs also have a very bohemian feel. For
instance, dark-plated copper circles intersect to make up an armband
set with subtle green gems. Its lightness gives it versatility for
day or night.
A ring of a similar palette comprises a copper leaf for its band that
twists around the finger and set with a green bejeweled orb.
He also creates a variety of copper or brass wrist cuffs set with
gems in every shade.
Khatcherian's novelty items range from light, wiry flower holders
perfect for a bridal bouquet to dramatic silver collars meant to be
paired with an evening or bridal gown.
Even the chandelier in the gallery comes from his workshop.
Before opening the gallery off Armenia Street, Khatcherian had designed
jeweleryfrom a modest workshop just around the corner. Taking a tour
of his humble beginnings shows just how far Khatcherian had come.
Khatcherian started his craft as an employee at a gold shop in the
1980s. After two years of work, the Civil War forced the shop to
close. Unemployment led the young designer to set up his own workshop.
In 1995, Khatcherian held an exhibit at the French Cultural Center
in Beirut. He marks this as the turning point in his design career,
as it attracted local and international clients and media attention.
Since then, his designs have bejeweled regional celebrities such as
Fayrouz and the casts at Mansour Rahbani's theaters.
And for now, Khatcherian said he's looking forward to pushing further
into Western markets and to settling into his new space.