UNQUENCHABLE FIRE BROUGHT BY ARMENIANS THROUGH CENTURIES IN BORIS YEGHIAZARIAN’S CANVASES

Noyan Tapan
Feb 29 2008

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 29, NOYAN TAPAN. Bright colors as if torn off from
a fairytale, bold and original choice of paints, warmth and love
reaching for the soul… This is the first impression from painter
Boris Yeghiazarian’s canvases. Medieval, vanguard, out of time – each
of these words can characterize the Ukraine-based Armenian painter,
who in the National Gallery of Armenia between February 15 to March 3
gave a possibility to the Armenian art loving society to get acquainted
with his inner world.

"In order to understand Boris Yeghiazarian’s art one need not
understand much in art, as there is an inner radiation of love and
light accessible for everyone in his art," the painter’s sister,
art critic Gayane Yeghiazarian considers, "the most influential
thing in his art is the greatest love he feels for the God, people,
and the world."

Boris Yeghiazarian, who was born in Aparan, on his way of becoming a
painter was inspired by great masters Van Gogh, Gauguin, and Aparan
mountains of undescribable beauty. When creating portraits the painter
is not guided by any style: he considers that each person is so unique
that to dictate his style means to distort personal features peculiar
of only that individual.

"I try to feel and to give the original," the painter said.

The spirit of medieval Armenian culture with elements of miniature,
wall-painting is felt in the painter’s canvases. The unquenchable
fire brought by the Armenians through centuries today lights up in
Yeghiazarian’s canvases strongly and purely.

However, there was a moment in the painter’s life when he took arms
instead of a brush. During the Karabakh movement Boris Yeghiazarian was
the commander of Aparan detachment. He was not able to work for a long
time after the fight. He started creating first on the paper by writing
stories, which helped him to again sink into the magic world of color.

Boris Yeghiazarian had personal and group exhibitions in picture
galleries of different countries of the world, in Switzerland, France,
Germany, Greece, the United States, Canada. The painter’s works are
kept in different museums, in the National Museum of the Ukraine,
in the Museum of Russian Art, in Parajanov Museum, Yervand Kochar
Museum, as well as in many private collections in the U.S., Canada,
Greece, Switzerland, and other countries.

Boris Yeghiazarian was included in the catalogue "2000 Prominent
Painters and Designers of the 20th Century" by the International
Biographical Center of Cambridge, as well as was awarded Diploma of
Cambridge International Biographical Center for making a considerable
contribution to 20th century’s painting and art.