Hambardzum Ghukasyan, 55, painter, was born in Gyumri. He studied at both the Panos Terlemezian and Theatrical Institute of Fine Arts, both in Yerevan. Though he has worked as a painting teacher and currently serves as the director of the Fine Arts Institute of Yerevan-Gyumri branch, Ghukasyan has not let his duties get in the way of his own work. A prolific painter, Ghukasyan's work is characterized by rich warm tones and strong classic techniques: a favorite theme is the former theatrical tradition of Gyumri, usually depicted as underneath the city since the 1988 earthquake. He describes the nude woman who is the subject of many of his paintings as a "candle," and with her glowing pinks, oranges and burnt sienna, that's exactly how she appears.
Want to visit Hambardzum's studio? E-mail us at arttoursarmenia@gmail.com.
