Robert Elibekyan, People’s Artist of the Republic of Armenia, knows about the issue of the Covered Marketplace in Mashtots Avenue from TV news broadcast. During a conversation with www.aravot.am, the artist remembered that in 1970s, when he had worked in the Opera, had received artists and directors of the Bolshoi Theater who, according to him, had always admired the Covered Marketplace. “God be praised, I have been to many countries in Europe and to the United States, I haven’t seen such a building yet, the Covered Marketplace is very unique, it was like the decoration of our city and the architect solved the problem brilliantly. Generally, the architecture of marketplace is the most difficult one in the art of building. It is understandable that the marketplace is privatized, but Aghababyan’s project is brilliant, it can just be restored, rebuilt in the same manner. I understand that the time has had an impact, there are problems with construction, but it doesn’t mean that they should completely destroy it…. Not only human has memory, the land itself has memory too. And one thing is clear, Mashtots Avenue starts with the Covered Marketplace,” says Robert Elibekyan.
According to the famous artist, “If they carry on like that, someone might not like, let’s say, the Sundukyan Theater in some 20 years and he will decide to destroy it and build a new one. Yerevan will lose its face like that.”
The painter says that if one treats the issue professionally, the marketplace can be restored as it was and Yerevan City so important for the owner can operate inside it and in one part of the marketplace villagers can sell their agricultural products and fruits, “It also possesses charm, it is interesting, it is not exotica, it is our culture. Going to the marketplace is a ceremony, it is a rite, it is not only about trade, it is like a theater. For example, when I go to the marketplace, I ask the seller from which village he is, how the harvest is like this year, I have a conversation, going to the marketplace is not only about taking care of your family’s needs.”
Gohar HAKOBYAN
