Hrair Diarbekirian: “I wish that Armenians would love and help one another!”

And what do you say? What is your art, Armenian, Lebanese, or Lebanese-Armenian?

I am Armenian; if I was not Armenian, my work would not be what it is now. The Lebanese and Arab countries encouraged me a lot, until the Lebanese Armenians recognized me, because I was not in any party. I was the first Armenian to leave Lebanon and represent the country in different countries.

Have you had Armenian teachers?

I never had an Armenian teacher. I studied at the French lyceum of Beirut. But my parents sent me also to the [Nshan] Palanjian Djemaran [Lyceum], where I learned to read and write in Armenian. Then we would study Armenian twice a week.

I studied architecture for four years. It helped me a lot. I was busy with architecture classes in the afternoon until 4:00, then I studied drawing at the Lebanese Art Academy. An artist should have a base to be a professional. After that, you can do whatever you want. Now, anyone can put together colors and make some kind a painting, but if you ask him to draw a portrait, he won’t be able to do it. Sometimes some great artists visited us at the Academy, like Paul Guiragossian or Jean Khalife, looking at our drawings, saying “not bad,” and walking away. But we had one French and one Canadian professor who taught us well how to look and how to draw. As an architect, I know how to draw a painting.

In the last year of the Academy, there was a competition for tapestry design with three subjects in the new presidential palace. The jury came from France. I don’t know how many hundreds of people participated in the competition. I made three tapestry layouts: one with war and horses, one was a Lebanese landscape, and one for a dining room where there would be big dinners. At the end of one week, I received all three first prizes. I was still a student, but I became famous overnight. In the same year, I also received the first prize of the Sursock Museum. After this, people started to look after me. Thus I started, without much effort.

And is it possible to live only as an artist in Lebanon?

It is difficult. But I have lived well and live well, because I succeeded. My grandfather was not rich, and my mother never gave any money to me.

Does your surname Diarbekirian have anything to do with Diyarbakir – historical Tigranakert?

Yes, my father was from Diyarbakir. He was an orphan, who has lost his family in the genocide. The family was scattered to France, USA, Egypt, Iran, Iraq and Argentina. There was a Diarbekirian foundation in New York, and a Diarbekirian rest house in Buenos Aires. And my mother was from Yozgat; she was also an orphan. Their family name was Vartanian, but later we found out that the real surname was Pehlivanian. She had three sisters; her brother and father were killed, while her sister Noemi was three years old and sister Isabel was nine months old. They must have been rich, because the Kurds who worked for them saved the girls. Such an Armenian story.

And now you just came to visit Armenia?

Yes. A month ago, I had an exhibition in the US, in Pasadena [California], and then I came here. From Beirut, I arrived just in one-and-three-quarter hours. I am so happy being in my fatherland and I love it very, very much. For me, Yerevan is Europe. Our Armenians have built many great buildings. And what a great weather: beautiful snow, but with sunshine and blue sky. I wish eternal peace for Armenia; the situation in Artsakh is very sad now, but Armenians always stand up. I wish that Armenia will move forward and that our capital city will be open for more tourists. I am very proud to be Armenian. Everywhere I say that I am Armenian, and Lebanese people love Armenians, they have made great contribution in Lebanon. And I also wish that Armenians love each other and always support each other, as we don’t have another Armenia – this is the only one. And I always will visit Armenia!

I also hope that you will visit again this year, this time with an exhibition.

In Arabic they say: if God wills! Thank you very much!