The artwork as a substance and shape is an expression of some posture therefore it should be observed and arranged according to the conditions that give birth to it. And the latters in their turn are the consequences of individual and reality. This is the case that makes it necessary to observe the art as an interrelation of the artist with the lived reality. Arthur Hovhannisyan’s art is so polyhedral and comprehensive, that it is impossible to observe it only from one side. It is important to value the artist’s stable and not disguised inclination towards the heritage of the past, to pierce through the emotional nature of the artist’s creation, to understand how the lyricism and dramatic expressiveness are individually correlated in it. Hovhannisyan’s most significant creations should be observed from different positions, because the artist’s talent and competence are gathered in them, in which his preferences are disclosed.

    Arthur Hovhannisyan reflects various emotional experiences, thoughts, the embodiment of which is usually realized through the characters of women. These characters bewitch by their sensitivity expressed by slightly bent heads, slender outline of waist lines, smooth and unhurried movements, which once commenced, stock- still in time. For the painter the person’s pose, the head movement have programmatic meaning, becoming the peculiar plastic equivalent of concept and emotional state. The imaginary scenes created by Hovhannisyan expand in special time and spatial register as if being eternal characters or spectrums colored in lines which are out of time. His painted women usually turn into symbols, behind the visible matter develops an inner, deeper and hidden sense. The artistic form, century, to which the painter has directed his steps, have become symbols. The heritage of the past becomes more significant, when it acts as living and sustainable heritage and in which the cordiality towards the painter’s art is clearly outlined. Like any system of great vitality, the language of his painting has its traits of heredity, changeability, stability and mobility, by which it plays the communicative role. The strength of the artist is in the strong succession of traditions and it is the logical continuation of considerable cooperation, the right of being there has the one who brings his own word, vivid and original. That connection in Hovhannisyan’s creations is expressed in uppermost way as creative thinking, world outlook, inner world, display and representation of individuality. Such peculiarities of principle are more noticeable in «Spring dance» and «Awakening» works created in 2011. Arthur collects connotative comparisons from the absolute musical origin and combines with his already formed creative thinking. These are the seekings which open new ways full of possibilities and create new signs by expressing in the paintings the concerns and strivings, that fill his soul.

  The peculiarities born from the national character are vividly seen in the sensuous depths of Arthur Hovhannisyan’s works, in the inner layers of concepts and contents. In the painting “Dance” softly outlined female figures suggest the national, pensive, felicitous description of harmonious rhythm. The gradual progression of the torsions and lines of their bodies convey perfect musical sonority to the emotional frame of the painting. The volumes seem to vibrate in the colors of the canvas, in the space between the spectator and the painting, between two-dimensional and three-dimensional spaces. Color is the essential impulse of the painter’s works, colors create controversy and debates, otherwise, the characters will not suggest dialogues. A color stain contains the value of physical existence, the stroke of the brush serves for creating the volumes and revealing the pictorial contents. The dramatic shape in the image together with the mystic silence spreads deep sadness on the women. There are no crying feelings and thrilling tales here, everything is happening inwards, in a low voice, in the depth of the image, on clean and clear lines. The drama is not showy; it is somehow secret, discreet, as a smooth song.  The female characters created by Arthur Hovhannisyan in numerous variants and minor changes are shown to the spectators through red, blue, green and brown colors. The artist usually goes back to the same topic making clear its emotional structure and harmony. The same story is repeated in different and extra particularities, interpersonal emotion.

   Shushan Zohrabian

  Art critic

It seems possible effortless to talk about what you have seen, nevertheless it is not given to everyone to feel it in the level of excitement.

The calm but touching and inspiring brush of Arthur Hovhannisian leads within the vulnerable paths of human nature and each time a new wave of thoughts appears which initiates to reveal new answers and approaches. Artist’s paintings reveal opportunities to touch his own Self, to experience what has been seen and even they encourage to approach philosophically to each painting.

Outwardly, the painting is silent however in every image you can hear the noise of action, the whispers of people breathing even the sound of invisible wind blowing. Each work of art is a story of a destiny, never-ending process of life which enriches the artist’s canvas. We forget what we have heard, what we have seen... in our thoughts the moments we have lived disappear, even memories disappear but never what we have felt. Arthur’s paintings are wholly inspired with feelings, motion, voice, speech..., life.     

Just have a glance at the paintings and you will feel the intensity of feelings which is the accumulation of universally familiar emotions. 

It is that easy to find yourself in Arthur’s paintings, that native and non-forcing. Smooth condensation of colors, dynamic motion of the moment, nature of the character, familiar feelings and - the most essential - non-limited and non-definable tranquility which penetrates into the depths of human soul through the tangible noise of the scene.

Ovsanna Karamyan