Eduard Isabekyan was an Armenianpainter, founder of thematic compositional genre in Armenia.
Biography
1927–1931 Attended "Geghard" college where he received his first professional education taught by practicing artists Sedrak Arakelyan, Vahram Gayfedjian, Gohar Fermanyan.
A large number of researches, articles, monographs and dozens of films are dedicated to Eduard Isabekyan. A separate hall is allotted to Eduard Isabekyan’s permanent exhibition in The National Gallery of Armenia. His paintings are stored in many prestigious museums and private collections. Eduard Isabekyan was elected as an honorary chairman of "Igdir" patriotic union for the term of his life. During his lifetime the Municipality of Yerevan made a decision to establish a permanent exhibition hall for Isabekyan’s art. The Eduard Isabekyan Gallery opened on 3 May 2013- at 7a, Mashtots Avenue, in Yerevan.
Career, Works
Isabekyan is a multi-genre artist. He created extensive and high value compositional paintings, portraits, landscapes, graphics, thematic compositions, book designs.
The basis of his art is humanism and deep patriotism, the sources of his inspiration are Armenian insights, which are expressed in the characters of David of Sassoun, Tsovinar, Sanasar, Baghdasar, David Beck, Sayat Nova, Aksel Bakunts, Tamantsiner and other characters of great national figures. During the Great Patriotic War he depicted the heroic image of Soviet people, national liberation struggle of the Armenian people. Eduard Isabekyan was the founder of thematic compositional genre in Armenia. The basis of his art is the history of Armenian nation and its future, its proud posture and the ecstatic potential. Isabekyan’s works of thematic compositional genre are the achievement of Armenian fine art of the Soviet period. "Young David", "The Revolt of Haghpat Peasants in 1903", "Reply to Hazkert" and other paintings distinguish by their monumental expressiveness, dynamic composition and civic resonance. A number of Isabekyan’s paintings are characterized by organic intercourse of a man and the native nature: "Old Man from Byurakan and the Artavazik Church", "Aksel Bakunts", "Derenik Demirtchyan", "Curly Boy", "Sayat Nova". One of the best examples of Armenian portraiture of Soviet period is the "Mother’s portrait" painting. The thematic center of his landscapes is the epic description of Armenian nature, ancient fortresses and temples: "In the Canyon of Tatev", "The Oxen Crossing the River by the Bridge", "Khndzoresk". Many paintings are distinguished by artistic saturation: "Horovel", "Near the well", vIn the shade of the treesv, "Artavazd’s death". The illustrations of Derenik Demirchian’s "Vardananq" and Sero Khanzadyan’s "Mkhitar Sparapet" novels are also commonly known. Isabekyan is the author of a number of drawings and the series of graphics devoted to painter Arpenik Nalbandyan.
Exhibitions
1931 – Exhibition of young Armenian artists
1935 – "House of Red army" presented several graphic compositions
1943 – Exhibited his works that were accomplished during the army in Armenia and Moscow
1947 – 1st Personal exhibition,Yerevan, Armenia
1964 – Personal exhibition celebrating his 50th birthday
1965 – Personal exhibition in Tbilisi and Bulgaria
