In Search of Oneself

Yaroslav Zabavskiy is a veteran among his compatriots in terms of the length of residence in Armenia: the first “stone” in establishing and strengthening his roots here was in fact laid in 2016. Yaro (as he is called in Armenia) has been living here for ten years already.

At a young age, Yaroslav left the Moscow region for Wales to study in the UWC educational system, which radically changed the course of his entire future life. After graduating from college, he went to the USA to receive higher education in the field of international relations.

“My father is an artist, my great-grandfather was an artist, but I did not fully understand whether I was talented enough to become an artist myself. In Wales, as part of extracurricular activities, I began attending photography classes, and when I left for the USA, in addition to international relations, I started attending a seminar on contemporary art. That is when I realized that I could not escape myself and transferred to the faculty of arts. Funnily enough, among art disciplines I chose the most impractical ones – ceramics and film photography. But in the end, I listened to my heart, and after graduating, I returned to Russia,” Yaroslav shares.

Moving to Armenia, work at UWC School in Dilijan

After working in Russia for two years at the British Higher School of Art and Design, the protagonist received an invitation from the UWC school in Dilijan: as a graduate of the UWC system, Yaroslav actively participated in selecting future students and, of course, knew about the recently opened school in Dilijan and followed its development. And when the opportunity arose to come to Armenia for student selection and then apply for the newly opened position of second art teacher, Yaro did not hesitate: “I said – I am the one you need! And I can also create a film photography laboratory if you give me a darkroom. It was 2016, when moving here was not mainstream: Armenia was a place where I could apply my professional skills.”



The school had existed for only two years at the time: everything smelled of novelty, the academic program was also new, so at first Yaroslav immersed himself in the process, figuring out how everything worked and setting up the workshops where his lessons would take place.

From Teacher to Head of Faculty

“I was a teacher who was just learning to fly. And I was very lucky, firstly, that I could create an art space for myself according to my vision. And secondly, the first teacher was preparing for retirement and offered to pass on all the fundamentals and basics of teaching to me. Then, over time, the vacancy of head of faculty appeared. Now I not only teach visual arts courses, but I also lead the faculty,” the protagonist continues.

The faculty also had music and theater lessons: this added not only work and responsibilities for the protagonist, but also the opportunity to go beyond the school grounds, which was very important for a creative person. Yaroslav began traveling more often to the capital, organizing concerts with Armenian musicians at the school, meeting many Armenian artists, and forming new connections. These new connections also contributed to students traveling outside the school to other cities for theatrical performances and exhibitions, becoming involved in Armenian art.

Yaro’s Personal Creative Life

“I try, whenever possible, to keep my personal creativity alive, although as a teacher it is very difficult for me to find time. I am a teacher, mentor, and manager, but in my free time I try to engage in my own creative work. I recently exhibited at the Dilijan Museum, and my very first exhibition was in 2018 at AGBU with two Armenian artists, followed by a solo exhibition in Yerevan,” says Yaro.



A Gentle Transition into Armenian Reality: Friends, Travel, Plans for the Future

Not only did the protagonist’s professional activity flow smoothly, but so did his life outside of it: he easily found and continues to find common ground with locals and has never experienced language difficulties. Nevertheless, Yaroslav studies Armenian, understands it quite well, speaks it a little, and does not intend to stop there.

He has Armenian friends, lives in an Armenian environment, and often after work goes to the Dilijan Museum, which he considers his third home, to discuss Surenyants and Bashinjaghyan with the museum director, his close friend, and to communicate with local Armenian artists.

“I can say with confidence that such respect for artists and craftsmen as exists here, I have not encountered anywhere else. People here value their cultural heritage and are connected to it, and this means that creativity lives,” Yaroslav shares.

As he ventures beyond the school, he tries to travel extensively throughout Armenia: his ceramics are about nature, which inspires creativity. Yaro’s favorite place is Lake Sevan, where he lived for a couple of years, swam from May to October, and from where he traveled to school and back every day. Sevan is a place of power for the protagonist: he has a series of works dedicated to the lake with melted glass. Among his other favorite places are Gyumri, the monasteries of Akhtala and Tatev.



“Culture is an international language. And this is one of the foundations of why I am so involved in Armenian life,” says Yaroslav.
He has new plans for the future, collaborations, and a growing need to go beyond UWC to represent the school and Armenia, which aligns with the school’s goals and mission.



Armenia – Home

“I became a citizen of Armenia two years ago, and when I travel outside Armenia, I represent not only the school, but also Armenian education and culture. Armenians and Armenia as well. This connection with Armenia is primarily on an emotional level. Here is my home, my loved ones, my friends, this is a very strong emotional attachment. And when I return to Armenia and the customs officer tells me ‘Բարի գալուստ տուն’ (Welcome home), I feel that this truly is a return home. This is my base, my port,” Yaroslav Zabavskiy admits.

The emotional attachment to Armenia is also connected to Yaroslav’s family history: his grandmother had a non-biological but very beloved Armenian father from Rostov-on-Don. As a little girl, she sometimes traveled to Rostov, and Yaro knew there was such an important person in his grandmother’s life. Once she asked her grandson to say something in Armenian, and she heard a declaration of love “Ես քեզ սիրում եմ”, and then she herself began to pronounce Armenian phrases found in her suddenly awakened memory, without even realizing it.


But the strongest argument for accepting Armenia as home is probably the birth of his son here, which firmly cemented the protagonist’s bond with this land: “For my son, this is his homeland. If Armenia is his homeland, then what is it for me?!”

Material by Nare Bejanyan

AI-translated from the original Russian article: «В Армении – мой порт: совсем другая история Ярослава Забавского».