Hovhannes Zardaryan

Early life and career

Hovhannes Zardaryan was born in the family of craftsman in Kars (now in Turkey). During the massif exodus following the Armenian Genocide, Zardarians moved first to Armavir, Russia, then Krasnodar (Russia) and finally established in Tiflis (Georgia).

1933 - After attending painting classes at the Art School of Tiflis Hovhannes Zardaryan moves to Yerevan. He enters the Applied Arts School and graduates four years later from the studio of Sedrak Arakelian and Vahram Gaifejian.

1937 - Zardaryan continues his studies the Institute of Fine Arts and Architecture of the Russian Academy of Arts of Leningrad. By his return to Armenia in early 1941 Zardaryan is distinguished as one of the most promising young painters. He is one of several artists exempted from military service during the WW II and joins the Union of Artists of Armenia. He returns to Russia in 1944 with the series de still-lives and Armenian landscapes that were selected for the Exhibition of Armenian Art.

Back in Armenia Zardaryan collaborated with different artists on the State commanded large scale paintings.. 1956/1958 Zardarian participated in international exhibitions in Prague and India as well as Biennale in Venice. The painting “Spring” wins the Big Silver Medal at the World’s Fair in Brussels.

Change in style

Zardaryan established his studio near the Astrophysical Observatory of Burakan. His close relationship with scientists Benyiamin Markaryan and ... as well as the nature of the Aragats region had a crucial influence on his painting.

• 1959/1961 - Exhibitions in New York City, Mexico City, Havana, Cairo, Warsaw and Berlin.
• 1963 - Zardaryan is awarded the title of the National Artist of Armenia
• 1964 - Second Participation in the Venice Biennale.
• 1969 - Zardarian is awarded the academic rank of Professor after ten years of teaching in the Yerevan Institute of Visual and Dramatic Arts
• 1971/1972 - Takes part in exhibition “Armenian Art: From Urartu to Our Days”, held at the Louvre of Paris. Exhibition in Tokyo.
• 1974 - Zardaryan's painting "Spring" is depicted on a 10-kopeck USSR stamp (Soloviev 4339) that is part of a set devoted to Soviet painting.
• 1976- Takes part in exhibition “France – USSR”, held in Paris and the exhibition of Armenian Artists held in Rome.
• 1976/1977 - Takes part in exhibition of works of Armenian members of the USSR

Academy of Arts together with Ghukas Chubaryan and Grigor Khanjyan, held in Moscow, Riga, Vilnius, Warsaw, Kraków. Exhibition of Armenian Artists, held in Lisbon

• 1983/1985 Takes part in exhibitions “Armenian Visual Art”, held in Leningrad and

Moscow and Kiev.

• 1986/1987 Participates in the exhibition"Italy: As Armenian Artists see the Country", held in Venice. Exhibition in Toronto.
• 1988 Zardarian is elected the full member of the USSR Academy of Arts (since 1992 the Russian Academy of Arts).
• 1990 - Exhibition in Montreal (Canada).

Hovhannes Zardaryan died in Yerevan on 21 July 1992.

From early 1960's Zardarian created dozens of thematic compositions that has rarely been presented to the public.