Seyran Khatlamajyan The GodFather Of Armenian Abstract Art

Seyran Hovhannesi Khatlamajyan (April 20, 1937, Chaltr, Azov-Sevtsov region, Russian Federation, USSR; September 14, 1994, Yerevan, Armenia) was an Armenian painter, graphic artist, and public figure. He is considered one of the founders of Armenian abstract art.

After graduating from the Rostov School of Fine Arts "Mitrofan Grekov School" (1953–1959), he moved to Yerevan. In 1959, with the advice and support of Martiros Saryan, he entered the fine arts department of the Yerevan Fine Arts and Theater Institutein 1959, graduating in 1964.

1963-1965 participated in many ethnographic campaigns organized by the National Academy of Sciences of Armenia in all regions of Armenia.
Since 1965, laureate of the II youth competition in the field of graphics (Armenia), member of the Union of Artists of Armenia.

In 1992, on the initiative of Khatlamajyan and the basis of the details redesigned by him, the Government of Armenia officially adopted the new coat of arms of the First Republic of Armenia.

Khatlamajyan was influenced by Martiros Saryan, as he was close to the art of Martiros Saryan (1880–1972), with whom, despite the big age difference, he was connected with a deep, spiritual closeness for many years. With whom, despite the big age difference, he was connected with a deep, spiritual closeness for many years, he created symbolic landscapes generalizing the typical features of Armenian nature ("Shinuhair", 1964; "Fairytale Armenia" series, 1967); portraits revealing psychological nuances ("Portrait of my Father,", 1975; "Albert Kostanyan", 1975).

His source of inspiration in abstract art was the work of Wassily Kandinsky and Arshile Gorky. From a young age, Khatlamajian created his artistic language, which, according to Saryan, was based on high professionalism and deep knowledge of art history. He stood out for his strong sense of colour. Seyran Khatlamajian has expressed his unique message both with nuances of soft, transparent emotions and with the creative language of vigorous, enthusiastic colours. Seyran Khatlamajian’s handwriting is recognizable at first sight. And if his early landscapes and portraits often transport us to the Saryan world, then in his "Fairytale Armenia" and abstract genre, Khatlamajian does not resemble any other artist. He didn’t even repeat himself. In the abstract paintings of the 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s, and 90s, Khatlamajian is re-quoted, expressing the ideological development of his mind, both as a painter and as an intellectual, thus creating innovative phases in his art.

Group Exhibitions

Since 1964, he has been a permanent participant in the annual exhibitions organized by the Union of Artists of Armenia.

1978, "Colors of Armenia" and "Eight Armenian Artists" exhibitions, "Drouant" gallery, Paris Same exhibitions at AGBU Gallery, New York.

1979, Armenian painting exhibition at the Gulbenkian Fund, Lisbon

1992, "Four Armenian Abstractionist Artists", House-Museum of Hovhannes Tumanyan, Yerevan.

1994, Armenian Culture and Art, Bochum, Germany.

"Abstract Art in Armenia", Union of Artists of Armenia, Yerevan.

1998, "Abstractions. A look from the inside", Charlie Khachatryan Gallery, Yerevan.

Individual exhibitions

1966, Union of Architects of Armenia, Yerevan
1967, White Hall of "Komsomolskaya Pravda" newspaper, Moscow.
1967–1972, exhibitions in different cities of Armenia
1975, Union of Cinematographers, Yerevan
1982, Union of Artists of Armenia, Yerevan
1983, Etchmiadzin, Armenia

1987, Punkt Gallery, Gdansk, Poland