The Art of Tigran Saryan

By Knarik O. Meneshian

"The earth, like a living thing, has its own spirit, and without one's native land, without close touch with one's motherland, it is impossible to find one's self, one's soul." So wrote the renowned Armenian artist Martiros Saryan.

The art of Tigran Saryan brings to mind Martiros Saryan's poignant words. Born in 1982, in Yerevan, Armenia, into a family of artists, Tigran Saryan has experienced much in his 20 years.

Inspired by his mother and father, Tigran began drawing at the age of four. Many of his works, even at that young age, captured the heart and soul of Armenia's people and rugged, yet magnificent, landscape. When Tigran was 10, his father passed away, and young Tigran, along with his mother, Nellie, and older brother Davit, struggled like so many Armenians in Armenia to make a living.

Despite the turmoil and extreme hardships of the times, Tigran continued to create works of art--drawings, paintings, and collages--in a world that had suddenly been turned upside down.

Upon his father's death, his works became sorrowful. Color, texture, and composition revealed the depths of the young artist's emotions. Within time, though, his sorrowful works began to take on the brightness and energy of his earlier works, when his life was not yet filled with tragedy.

Tigran's first exhibit was held outdoors, in May 1991, in Yerevan. Many guests, including experts in the field of art and lovers of art, were present. His second exhibit was in the winter of 1991, at Yerevan's Alexander Spendaryan School of Music. Tigran's third exhibit took place in 1993, at the editorial offices of the Hayreniki Dzayne newspaper in Yerevan.

The young artist's next exhibit was held in Syria, in 1994, in the cities of Damascus and Aleppo at various Armenian cultural centers, followed by another exhibit in Beirut, Lebanon. Tigran's exhibit tour was very successful and he received recognition for his artistic achievements from the Armenian Ambassador in Lebanon.

The young artist returned home to Armenia filled with great encouragement and inspiration. Tigran's next exhibit was held in 1997, at the Armenian Evangelical Church Hall in Yerevan. This exhibit was arranged specifically for a group of guests from England. Among those present was England's Ambassador, Mr. Keith McMahon.

In October 1997 Tigran received an invitation to exhibit his works in Bath, England. During his 45-day tour, two exhibits were held, upon which he received an invitation to attend a one-week session at the Art Institute in England. His work had attracted much interest among the art instructors at the Art Institute.

In the same year, Tigran was accepted, with honors, to the College of Education in Yerevan to study art. After completing two and one-half years at the college, the American Embassy granted him permission to immigrate to the US.

In November 1999, Tigran Saryan left Armenia, and now resides in Los Angeles, California. Soon after, his mother and brother joined him.

Despite Tigan's long hours of work at a dry-cleaning plant, he still continues to create works of art. Vibrant and bold are his use of colors. Modern are his compositions with a flair for the abstract, yet in each there is a hint of Armenia.