Biography
Sarkis Hamalbashian was born in 1956, Gyumri, Armenia. In the 1980’s he emerged as one of the leading young artists who began to challenge Soviet norms. His work carried the imprint of the Italian early Renaissance, Russian iconography, the Russian new avant-garde, Armenian miniature painting and current developments in post-modern art in Armenia. During the post Soviet period, Sarkis emerged as one of the most important artists working in Armenia.
Since 1978 he participated in national and international exhibitions in Yerevan, Japan, Germany, including solo exhibitions in London and Los Angeles. His paintings are displayed in the Modern Art Museum of Armenia and in private collections around the world.
When Sarkis became aware that painting was his destiny and vocation he, like all beginners, felt the impact of those important influences. Bosch and Mantegna were his idols. Then, Matisse became his God... Later on Sarkis found his own motifs, his own view of humanity, life and nature.
Hamlbashian’s paintings breathe quietly and evenly. One cannot remain indifferent toward them because they urge the viewer to stop for a while and breathe a long. One can imagine him as a little boy, standing on a threshold of the family home, watching the women greeting each other and exchanging the latest gossip. After the earthquake, after the extensive destruction in the native Gumri, Hamalbashina’s work underwent dramatic changes, but still the earthquake scenes are not directly found in his works. The terror of nature is recalled in the artist’s works indirectly. His move to Yerevan coincides with the transformation of the artist’s mentality and outlook, and is reflected in the mode and colors of his work.
Exhibitions
