Искусство Армении. Черты историко-художественного развития

Towards the late fifties and onwards a notable contribution to the liberation of form, and an enrichment in its repertoire was made by the increased interest in minor arts and in crafts. Decorative sculpture and large pots and vases gave arts and crafts a new role in urban sur ‐ roundings. In the sixties in Armenia, as in the rest of the Soviet Union, many war memorials were put up. The underlying motifs — the heroism of soldiers, grief for the dead and the gratitude of the living — were attractive in themselves for many artists. Another field where architecture could form an organic unity with other arts was monu ‐ mental art — wall ‐ painting and large mosaics. The latter remains a favourite form of architec ‐ tural decor with many Armenian artists, especially since Armenian stone comes in an infinite variety of colour and texture. The picture of present ‐ day Armenian art would be incomplete without a glance at the cul ‐ ture of the Armenian diaspora. Nowadays a great many Armenian artists live and work all round the world, and, although their work now essentially belongs to their adopted countries, it still has strong links with Armenia, its history and tradition. Among the most remarkable names to be mentioned here are those of the painter Arshile Gorky (Vosdanig Adoyan) who made an im ‐ portant contribution to contemporary American painting and of the well ‐ known French painter and graphic artist Carzou (Garnik Zulumyan). Regular exhibitions in Armenia of Armenian artists from abroad, their frequent visits and, above all, their paintings of modern Armenian life, link them to Armenia’s cultural life. The significance of the history of Armenian culture and art should be pointed out. Arme ‐ nia’s eventful past, her history, rich in victories, but still more so in disaster and tragedy, left a deep imprint upon her art, determined its development, and art forms at various times. Armenia’s membership of Europe and the East was at the nerve centre of Armenian cul ‐ ture. It was the efforts of all Armenians that ensured their country’s independence. And it was this process that enabled them to create truly original art. They made a contribution to the cul ‐ ture of each and every epoch. Armenian antiquities, Armenian art of all periods show both vari ‐ ety and great consistency. Armenia’s cultural experience unites her past and her present, and the message of Armenian art is linked with those vivid, viable traditions that enabled Armenian artists always to respond to changing conditions.