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'THE WEEK OF MADNESS'
Arshak Sarkissian gently challenges the viewer to make up their own
mind about what they are seeing when looking at his highly detailed
and often very colourful new artworks.
The Armenian artist's fourth exhibition at Nicosia's Opus 39 Gallery,
entitled 'The week of madness' is on until October 11.
The show is made up of beautifully executed ink drawings, exquisitely
colourful paintings and a sculpture you expect to climb down off its
pedestal and walk around the gallery any second.
Speaking to The Cyprus Weekly, Sarkissian revealed one of the
reasons he often omits titling his work is because he does not want
to influence the viewer in deciding how each painting, drawing or
sculpture makes them feel.
"Someone may look at this collection and say, 'Oh, it's a carnival,'
but it isn't although it may make that person think of a carnival,"
instead, the artist said, each work is about the emotions and feelings
the characters it depicts emote.
The exhibition's title was inspired by the care people in past decades
took in preparing for an outing or special event, even at their own
home, the artist said: "It was not about dressing up to show off but
about feeling comfortable with how they were dressed."
Sarkissian added: "My work is about the idea of someone, their
personality, the atmosphere they create. It is not about what they
are doing but what they make you feel."
He gave the example of seeing a couple walking hand in hand: "When
you look at them, you don't think about what their names are. You
conceive the concept of two people holding hands."
Sarkissian notes the images he creates are from modern life but
"from another reality, from my reality".
The artist also pays the same amount of attention to every pen or
brush stroke in his works, believing every element is of equal value.
"In historical paintings you may see very different levels of
importance were given to the face of a king, for example, and to his
dog," Sarkissian said, noting: 'I am more of a documental artist.
Beautiful and ugly are the same to me. Every image--man, woman, child,
pair of shoes, gets the same attention."
The artist also finds it natural to switch between elements: "If you
are swimming your body gives you what you need to do that particular
thing. It is the same with the mediums I work in. You have a particular
idea in mind and the medium guides you."
His sculptures more often than not begin as characters in his paintings
and drawings--sometimes making several appearances.
"I can draw or paint a character for years and then it comes to a
point when I think, yes, it is time to sculpt this guy."
While travelling constraints mean the larger scale pieces than
those currently on show at Opus 39 could not be brought to Cyprus,
Sarkissian is nonetheless confident they are a more than adequate
representation of his work.
The sole sculpture is particularly representative of his current
endeavours, he said, adding an exhibition in his native Armenia,
where his studio is also located, would be different.
The artist enjoys coming to Cyprus both because his first solo
exhibition was here, at Opus 39, over 10 years ago, and because of the
atmosphere which, he said, stays the same in spite of other changes.
Sarkissian also did his post graduate studies at Cyprus College of Art
with Stass Paraskos and was saddened by his death earlier this year.
"I was in Armenia when it happened. I knew from his son that Stass
was not feeling well and I was aware of his age but, although this
is life, I was sad."
Sarkissian added, however that Paraskos, like all artists would live
on in his legacy.
"He was a great painter and many people met him over the many years
he was at Lemba. He was a remarkable man.
"His life, his painting, his personality, his voice, the way he spoke,"
Sarkissian said of Paraskos, adding: "Artists are lucky because they
never die, they live on through their work."
Sarkissian's future plans include exhibiting in both New York and
Armenia in the coming year. Coming to Cyprus after an exhibition in
Andorra, he noted how different shows in different countries can be.
"It is always very interesting to see how people connect with your
work. I have always found that bit fascinating and always will."
Sarkissian was born in Gyumri, Armenia in 1981. After completing
his education at the National Aesthetic Centre of Art in Armenia,
he came to Cyprus working with Paraskos.
Sarkissian has had solo shows at the Albemarle Gallery in London,
Gavriel Gallery in Bremen, in Paris and New York. Among his works
is the interior design of passenger terminals in Zvartnots Armenia
International Airport.
He has participated in numerous art projects such as the Art Omi
International Artist residency, in New York and "Stand Up For Your
Rights" Design and Illustration Team Residence program in Buntingford,
UK and the Andirran National Commission for UNESCO international art
camp 2014. He works and lives in Yerevan, Armenia.
Visit www.arshaksarkissian.com for more on the artist and his work.
A catalogue featuring Sarkissian's new work is also available to
purchase from Moufflon Bookshop in Nicosia (22665155).
Opus 39 Gallery is situated at 21, Kimonos St., Nicosia, opposite
the Education Ministry.
It is open Mondays from 5-8pm, Tuesday-Friday from 10.30am-12.30pm
and 5-8pm and on Saturdays from 10.30am-12.30pm.
Call 22424983 or visit the gallery's official Facebook page.
http://incyprus.philenews.com/en-gb/local-news/4422/41312/the-week-of-madness
Arshak Sarkissian gently challenges the viewer to make up their own
mind about what they are seeing when looking at his highly detailed
and often very colourful new artworks.
The Armenian artist's fourth exhibition at Nicosia's Opus 39 Gallery,
entitled 'The week of madness' is on until October 11.
The show is made up of beautifully executed ink drawings, exquisitely
colourful paintings and a sculpture you expect to climb down off its
pedestal and walk around the gallery any second.
Speaking to The Cyprus Weekly, Sarkissian revealed one of the
reasons he often omits titling his work is because he does not want
to influence the viewer in deciding how each painting, drawing or
sculpture makes them feel.
"Someone may look at this collection and say, 'Oh, it's a carnival,'
but it isn't although it may make that person think of a carnival,"
instead, the artist said, each work is about the emotions and feelings
the characters it depicts emote.
The exhibition's title was inspired by the care people in past decades
took in preparing for an outing or special event, even at their own
home, the artist said: "It was not about dressing up to show off but
about feeling comfortable with how they were dressed."
Sarkissian added: "My work is about the idea of someone, their
personality, the atmosphere they create. It is not about what they
are doing but what they make you feel."
He gave the example of seeing a couple walking hand in hand: "When
you look at them, you don't think about what their names are. You
conceive the concept of two people holding hands."
Sarkissian notes the images he creates are from modern life but
"from another reality, from my reality".
The artist also pays the same amount of attention to every pen or
brush stroke in his works, believing every element is of equal value.
"In historical paintings you may see very different levels of
importance were given to the face of a king, for example, and to his
dog," Sarkissian said, noting: 'I am more of a documental artist.
Beautiful and ugly are the same to me. Every image--man, woman, child,
pair of shoes, gets the same attention."
The artist also finds it natural to switch between elements: "If you
are swimming your body gives you what you need to do that particular
thing. It is the same with the mediums I work in. You have a particular
idea in mind and the medium guides you."
His sculptures more often than not begin as characters in his paintings
and drawings--sometimes making several appearances.
"I can draw or paint a character for years and then it comes to a
point when I think, yes, it is time to sculpt this guy."
While travelling constraints mean the larger scale pieces than
those currently on show at Opus 39 could not be brought to Cyprus,
Sarkissian is nonetheless confident they are a more than adequate
representation of his work.
The sole sculpture is particularly representative of his current
endeavours, he said, adding an exhibition in his native Armenia,
where his studio is also located, would be different.
The artist enjoys coming to Cyprus both because his first solo
exhibition was here, at Opus 39, over 10 years ago, and because of the
atmosphere which, he said, stays the same in spite of other changes.
Sarkissian also did his post graduate studies at Cyprus College of Art
with Stass Paraskos and was saddened by his death earlier this year.
"I was in Armenia when it happened. I knew from his son that Stass
was not feeling well and I was aware of his age but, although this
is life, I was sad."
Sarkissian added, however that Paraskos, like all artists would live
on in his legacy.
"He was a great painter and many people met him over the many years
he was at Lemba. He was a remarkable man.
"His life, his painting, his personality, his voice, the way he spoke,"
Sarkissian said of Paraskos, adding: "Artists are lucky because they
never die, they live on through their work."
Sarkissian's future plans include exhibiting in both New York and
Armenia in the coming year. Coming to Cyprus after an exhibition in
Andorra, he noted how different shows in different countries can be.
"It is always very interesting to see how people connect with your
work. I have always found that bit fascinating and always will."
Sarkissian was born in Gyumri, Armenia in 1981. After completing
his education at the National Aesthetic Centre of Art in Armenia,
he came to Cyprus working with Paraskos.
Sarkissian has had solo shows at the Albemarle Gallery in London,
Gavriel Gallery in Bremen, in Paris and New York. Among his works
is the interior design of passenger terminals in Zvartnots Armenia
International Airport.
He has participated in numerous art projects such as the Art Omi
International Artist residency, in New York and "Stand Up For Your
Rights" Design and Illustration Team Residence program in Buntingford,
UK and the Andirran National Commission for UNESCO international art
camp 2014. He works and lives in Yerevan, Armenia.
Visit www.arshaksarkissian.com for more on the artist and his work.
A catalogue featuring Sarkissian's new work is also available to
purchase from Moufflon Bookshop in Nicosia (22665155).
Opus 39 Gallery is situated at 21, Kimonos St., Nicosia, opposite
the Education Ministry.
It is open Mondays from 5-8pm, Tuesday-Friday from 10.30am-12.30pm
and 5-8pm and on Saturdays from 10.30am-12.30pm.
Call 22424983 or visit the gallery's official Facebook page.
http://incyprus.philenews.com/en-gb/local-news/4422/41312/the-week-of-madness