Aesthete, cultural commentator, and art-critic-journalist Levon Lachikyan does not consider painting his profession and views it just as a preference, anyway, thanks to the line of his skill, performance quality and organizing several exhibitions, he already has obtained the reputation of the urban-life artist. His works mirrored his birthplace Gyumri and the ancestral hometown of Kars, Goris and Paris, Venice and New York. The artist exhibited all of that in his solo exhibition entitled the “Armenian world” in 2011, in New York. It was there that by the urging of New York-based Istanbul-Armenians, he decided to address also the Armenian Istanbul.
After the three visits to Istanbul, Levon Lachikyan presented his “Istanbul Reflections” in April, this year, first in Yerevan and then the expanded version of the exhibition entitled “Istanbul, near and far” was recently exhibited also in Istanbul, in the nearby island Gnal. As the artist says, the base of his words underlies the title of Hrant Dink’s popular book, “Two Close Peoples, Two Distant Neighbors”. Levon thinks that Constantinople-Istanbul has been as our black and sad, as well as the eyewitness of bright and happy days. The trace of Armenians is still strong in this city.
Moreover, according to Lachikyan, it’s always worth saying that the Armenians here have an older history than the Turks. Therefore, he proudly walked along the streets of Istanbul, looking for the footprints of our martyred writers: Grigor Zohrab and Varuzhan, Ruben Sevak and Siamanto. “Exactly 100 years ago, Hovhannes Golod Baghishetsi became a Patriarch, providing an awakening to our national life, – says Levon and continues, – then this famous Turkish settlement became one of our cultural capitals.” The Armenian intellectual wants to reaffirm with his drawings the role of Constantinople in our spiritual and cultural life. “The East and the West are mixed there,” tells our interlocutor with admiration, showing his drawings. They depict the historic Constantinople with its different constructions and delightful names: St. Sophia temple, Dolmabahçe Palace, Gnal Island with its unique mansions. The breadth of Armenians hovers here and the stamp of the genius of our ancestors is available here.
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It appears that Gnal Island was significant in the life of Armenians. Vahram Papazyan and Zabel Asadur, Hakob Mndzuri and Zahrate used to live and create here, especially in the summer months. Also, the great Komitas’ fate is connected with this Armenian-breadth island during the years of his living in Constantinople. Armenian Deputy of the Turkish Parliament Selina Doğan, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of St. Savior National Hospital Bedros Şirinoğlu, Deputy Mayor of Şişli Vasken Barın, as Armenian, so as Turkish famous art workers, writers and so on were among the visitors to the exhibition “Constantinople, far and close”.
The renowned Istanbul-Armenian photographer Ara Güler (in the photo) highly appreciated the works of Armenian artist. Levon Lachikyan’s the tenth-anniversary exhibition was properly responded by both local and Turkish newspapers and magazines. For example: “Marmara” described the organization of the exhibition a great success, and “Agos” weekly viewed is as a “victory,” and wrote, “We will call the meeting with this artist a victory as he succeeded to admire the visitors to the exhibition with his works.” Levon is planning to compress his impressions in the new book of travel notes, which will also depict his wonderful drawings.
Armen KARAPETYAN
“Aravot” daily
