About me
My artist journey is deeply intertwined with my identity and the profound influences of my family, friends, and broader communities. Every interaction and moment has significantly shaped my development as an artist.
During my time as a student, I found inspiration in Western imagery and ideologies. The allure of Western ideals, particularly the notion of being a “cool artist,” fascinated me. This fascination was also an internal rebellion against the established artistic norms of my own context. This exploration introduced me to new perspectives while simultaneously igniting a desire to adapt external symbols of identity that seemed to have arrived in Armenia long before I was aware.
As I navigated these influences, my longing for individuality deepened into a crisis, creating a widening chasm rather than bridging the gaps I sought to fill. Over time, a rift emerged between myself and my Western friends, coinciding with the awakening of my political consciousness. This separation, however, allowed me to reconnect with my true self and guided me to the present moment in my artistic trajectory.
Now, I strive to integrate my personal identity and experiences with the cultural and political contexts from which I emerged, shaping me as both an artist and a citizen. I examine my thoughts and question not just my individuality, but the singular landscape of my surroundings, rich with untold human stories—of which I am but one.
My works aim to reflect the world in which I live, serving as observations of reality as I perceive it. This process acts as a form of artistic documentation, drawing from the environment that shapes my understanding. I aspire for the images I create to resonate with their roots, avoiding alienation from the reality from which they emerge.
While words may sometimes fall short in capturing the motivations behind my paintings, one certainty remains: I bear witness to what I see and express it through my art. My work transcends mere representation, entering the realm of artistry where color, material, composition and poetry become essential aesthetic principles.
At this stage of my life, I delve into the fabric of existence along my country’s borders—the hidden content within it, the political and physical landscapes that surround me, my Soviet heritage, and the lives of the working individuals who embody that heritage. My focus lies on the person and the emotions, whether noise or solitude, that emanate from their experiences.
Biography
Narek Barseghyan (1993) is an artist based in Yerevan, Armenia. He graduated from Armenia’s Academy of Fine Arts in 2013, where he was classically trained in the department of painting. In 2016, he was awarded the distinguished Presidential Youth Prize for painting regarding his series “Identity”.
Artist in Residency
2023- East-West Resident: Villa Empain in Brussels, Belgium
2017- Haystack Mountain School of Crafts, Main, USA.
Exhibitions
2024, November – «Et les frontières deviennent des ponts» Group exhibition, Festival Un Week-end à l’Est. Paris, France
2024, September, “Lost&Found Bureau” Group exhibition, library for architecture, Yerevan https://www.homeing.org/lostandfoundbureau/
2024, August, “Fragments from the Soviet Past” Solo exhibition, Vajrapar, Yerevan
2024, March, “My soul in Exile” Annual Festival of Alternative Art, group exhibition, ACCEA, Yerevan https://www.accea.info/my-soul-in-exil/
2023, November, “And what’s under your skin”, Solo exhibition, Henrik Igityan national centre for aesthetics, Yerevan
2023, March, “To The One I Loved [Նրան ում ես սիրեցի],” Solo Exhibition, Firdusi 48, Yerevan
2022, September, “Sensor” festival at the Byurakan, Radio Optical Observatory, Byurakan
2021, December, “Tomorrow” group exhibition at the Cafesjian Center of the Arts. Yerevan https://www.cmf.am/TOMORROW/status/3/page/3
2019, May, “Urvakan” festival. Yerevan
2018, July, Roadmaps, Honeypump Gallery at AGBU Armenia, Yerevan
2018, May, “The Leather Show”: Solo exhibition, HAYP Pop Up Gallery at the Mergelyan, Yerevan https://haypopup.com/portfolio/hayp-11/
2017, April, “Down_Shift” HAYP Pop Up Gallery at Northern Avenue, Yerevan https://haypopup.com/portfolio/hayp-9-0/
2016, December, “Untitled” Solo exhibition at AGBU Armenia, Yerevan
Contact
Email: narekbarseghyanart@gmail.com
