“Modern painting has changed, developed, and branched off to such an extent that it does not obey any rules. Many years ago people considered it proficiency, a lavish gift when
someone was able to accurately paint Nature and Man. However, with its arrival photography showed that Physics gives a better solution to the problem than people can,” says Hamlet Mikaelyan, Candidate of Physical and Mathematical Sciences and Professor, who heads the Chair of Methods of Teaching Mathematics at the Pedagogical University.
The twelve paintings of the mathematician showcased within the framework of the conference on Active Learning in Optics and Photonics organized by the Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Informatics were manifestations of his soul: red, blue and yellow colours reflect human feelings, emotions, happy and sad moods and attract viewers at the very first glance. I am trying to talk to the artist to reveal the palette of colours and the world of colours he is living in…
“Art is a way to express one’s feelings. When I paint I feel good. Painting cuts me off from the real world. I feel separated with my inner world and the world seems wonderful as there is no one there… When you paint, you are able to reveal, feel and understand yourself. This is the greatest gift of painting…
However, this is not the case with literature. When you want to write a story, your soul must be clean, nothing must interfere with the process since writing demands great efforts and exertion. But when you are irritated, excited or disturbed you can paint; painting will purify your soul… When you pick up a brush, colours take you away… to another world, to a different world and you begin to live in that world…,” he said.
Then I asked him about the connection between Mathematics and Art. “Surely, there is connection between Mathematics and Fine Arts: proportionality, symmetry, comparison, rhythm and harmony lie at the bases of painting, but that of the classic painting. In fact, they are also indispensable components of Mathematics. But today it is not like that as those measurements are not applied.
Hamlet Mikaelyan says ‘abstraction does not happen by accident since everything is taken from real life and you cannot paint beyond its boundaries… When you look at the grapes painted by Saryan they look so natural that they seem to be melting in your mouth. This is the real, new painting. The picture is considered to be a good one when you can't actually remove yourself from it… When the picture is beautiful it will attract you and fill your heart…”
With his interesting and beautiful world, Hamlet Mikaelyan lives in the world of colours and feelings where there are no measurements but there is always something to say. “If a person does not fill his soul with art, weeds grow there…”
