From Kond – to Paris
 

That Nairi Grigoryan is an artist is easy to guess from his image, his manner of speaking, and the environment and atmosphere he creates wherever he steps. In his hands, the brush moves smoothly, stone turns into a work of art, and even the smallest hall becomes a true stage.
 

Nairi does not consider himself a repatriate, even though he spent thirty years of his life in France: “When I left for Paris and people asked me where I was from, I said from Kond. They asked, ‘Where is that?’, and I answered that it is a city-state next to Yerevan.”
 

After graduating from the P. Terlemezyan State College of Fine Arts and the Academy of Fine Arts of Armenia, Nairi left for Paris to work.
 

Many doors opened for the young and talented artist, along with the opportunity to exhibit in the most renowned salons of Paris. And not only in Paris: Nairi exhibited many times in Switzerland and Russia as well.
 

The Return of the Prodigal Son
 

During his thirty years abroad, Nairi visited Armenia several times: sometimes for short stays, sometimes spending several months in Kond.

“In 2010, I came to Yerevan with an exhibition called ‘The Return of the Prodigal Son.’ By then, I had been absent from the capital for a long time, and my friends decided the exhibition should be titled that way. I stayed for about five months: Yerevan looked completely different in my eyes, the air too. Suddenly I felt longing – something I had not felt in Paris. Perhaps that is why I stayed in Yerevan longer than usual at that time.”

In 2016, Nairi came to Yerevan again, this time with the goal of creating a sculpture of Lusine Zakaryan, whose songs he loved thanks to his mother. But the plan was not realized; he only managed to create sketches of his future work.
 

Plenty of Work – Little Time
 

At the beginning of 2020, Nairi Grigoryan finally returned to his native Kond, near which he opened his workshop.

“For an artist, it is important to leave the country at least for a while but with the hope of returning. True, I stayed abroad a long time – about 30 years. I am here now; I regularly hold exhibitions of my works (sculptures and paintings), which are very successful. I opened an art school for children – children are another world – made new friends, and my old ones are here too. I want to work, to work a lot.”

Nairi also began to create a theatrical world around him: the Yerevan audience was introduced to the play “Eyes,” authored by art critic and director Luiza Khachumyan, with whom Nairi collaborates in this field.
 

“People often ask me what I am doing in Armenia; I say there is a lot of work, but little time. I don’t feel like a repatriate; after returning, I became more productive, and my thoughts are limitless. I urge everyone abroad to come back – we have a lot of work ahead.”

Armenia Gives Great Strength
 

Nairi continues to create, working on new pieces and planning at last to make the sculpture of his beloved Lusine Zakaryan. He admits that the only thing that truly angers him is the “rabiz” culture, against which he fights in his own way: by providing quality education to children in the art school he opened at his workshop.
 

“One must give and give; that, in my view, is the right path. In return, Armenia gives you great strength. Life here is both desire and decision. I was never a patriot, but now similar feelings live in me. Our water, our land – that is what nourishes me now.”

Nare Bejanyan

Translation via AI based on the original article in Russian: «Жизнь в Армении – желание и решение».