YEREVAN — About 10 kilometers from the center of Yerevan in a village called Zovuni a new cultural initiative has come into being, which merits the attention of artists and art lovers. It is the home and studio of Arman Hambardzumyan and his wife, Lusine Sargsian, designed and built by the artist himself. Not only is it a residence and atelier, but also an active cultural center which will host exhibitions, discussions about art, and other activities. Since March, when the young couple moved in, they have received numerous guests, artists, art lovers, film figures, musicians, photographers, friends, and guests from abroad.
The multifunctional dwelling represents the fulfillment of a lifelong dream. Born in Yerevan in 1988, Hambardzumyan did not have a life of luxury. His father had always wanted to become an artist, but difficult conditions prevented him from realizing his ambitions. This had a decisive impact on his son, who “wanted at all costs to be an artist.” As he described it, this was something he “made clear even in elementary school.”
He recalls that, as a child, since he “had no toys to play with,” he simply made his own. This childhood creativity developed as he studied art, and is especially evident in his sculptures.
He did his undergraduate work at the Henry Igityan National Art Center from 2000 to 2005, then earned his bachelor’s and master’s degree at the Yerevan State Pedagogical University in 2009 and 2011, respectively. Since 2011, he has been a member of the Artists’ Union in Armenia and in the following year, he received the Laureate of the President Prize of the Republic of Armenia.
Soon he began exhibiting his works in many European countries: in addition to homeland Armenia, his art appeared in Russia, Serbia, Moldova, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Italy, Malta, Greece and also in Lebanon. In 2017 he participated in the Art Expo in New York. Many of his sculptures and paintings are now on display in private homes and museums. It is through the sales of his works that he has been able to finance his building project.
I asked him to explain the concept of his architectural project and how it came into being. “In 2019,” he wrote, “I bought 500 square meters of land for the realization of my dream: to have a working space and to live together with my beloved wife. First, I drew the plan of the house-studio and designed it in 3D by myself. The procedure of the construction took several years.”
