Assures the American resident photographer Robert Karapetyan
Recently, the “Moscow” cinema exhibited the works of American photographer Robert Karapetyan entitled “Holy Cross, Holy Trinity, Tabernacle of Hope”. The artist lives in New York since 1993. During the meeting with “Aravot”, Robert Karapetyan noted that the first photos were published in the mid-1950s, in the Armenian periodicals. He remembered his meetings with the Armenian greats of art and literature, including Vahram Papazyan, William Saroyan, Martiros Saryan, Kochar, Charles Aznavour, Silva Kaputikian, Gohar Gasparyan…Today, he still continues taking the photos of our other greats living and creating in Armenia and abroad.
Our interlocutor assured that, in his words, he is working with a hidden camera and one can obtain an artistic value works only in such a way. Mr. Karapetyan told ahead of time that next year he will organize his jubilee exhibition in Yerevan dedicated to his 80th birthday and 55th anniversary of work career. During the conversation, Robert Karapetyan repeatedly emphasized that he has never sold photographs, although he had got such offers both in Armenia and the United States. Instead, he said that he has just gifted many of his works. “In 2002, when I was in Yerevan, I donated the whole archive of my photo tape to the National Museum of Literature and Art. Two years ago, I gave my series of “My Yerevan” photos to the Holy Martyrs Armenian Day School in New York … On the 20th anniversary of Armenia’s Independence Day, when I opened an exhibition in Yerevan, I kindly donated all exhibited photos to the Ministry of Defense of Armenia … “, said the photographer.
He also added that in addition to individual exhibitions, he is collaborating with some Diaspora periodicals, including the Boston “Homeland”, Lebanon “Zartonk”, Canada “Future” and Los Angeles “Panorama”. Reminding the photographer that in the 1960s he had studied at Armen Gulakyan and Vardan Achemyan studios at the Yerevan State Institute of Theater and Cinema, so we asked why he was not established as a filmmaker. Mr. Karapetyan did not agree with the phrase “established” and just said that in 1973-83, he worked as a chief film producer for the Armenian television, moreover, he commenced working there since 1965.
To the curiosity of how he has got acquainted with our greats during the years of “iron curtain”, the photographer recalled his first meeting with William Saroyan. “In 1976, Vahagn Davtyan introduced me to William Saroyan visiting Armenia for the first time. True, my first photos of the master were not approved by him, but I ‘fought’ to the end … When in 2008, a book-album was published in Fresno dedicated to the 100th anniversary of William Saroyan’s birth, I was asked for some photos and I provided 100 photographs of the master… By the way, in 1976, again in Yerevan, I was acquainted with Ara Güler nicknamed the “Eye of Istanbul”. The artist gives a great role to his book-Albums. He remembered that by the offer of the late Catholicos Vazgen I, in 1981-1984, he has worked on the famous album called “Treasures of Etchmiadzin”, where 900 of his photos are illustrated. .. He mention the “Armenian carpets”, “Treasury” albums and so on. He also said that his career as a photographer was conducted in a way that he had received an invitation to each exhibition, as he said, “in 1993, I again received an invitation to Art Exhibition at the Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral in New York City.”
Even now, when he is in Yerevan, he does not leave the house without the camera. “Recently, I attended “Anush” opera performance and again I did a few shots,” said the photographer. To the curiosity of whether he had received the right to do so, Mr. Karapetyan replied smiling, “I do not need a right to do so. I take the photos without the flash, what I mean is that in given case this is not an obstacle.” We said jokingly that actually he is involved in “piracy” for years, Robert Karapetyan reminded seriously, “Think as you want. I am working with a hidden camera and one can obtain an artistic value photograph only in this way.”
Samvel DANIELYAN,
“Aravot” daily
