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“While sculpting the bust of Marshal Baghramyan (a legendary Soviet-Armenian military commander of the WWII period), I discovered him in a new light as a person and character, who has a subtle soul and is a highly emotional, deep and even vulnerable personality. I wanted to show it in the sculpture,” says Misak Melkonyan, Associate Professor of the Chair of Fine Arts at ASPU.
The bust of Marshal Hovhannes Baghramyan, authored by Misak Melkonyan, was unveiled at Moscow’s Central Museum of the Great Patriotic War on November 10. The bust is a gift by Armenia to the Russian Federation to celebrate the Armenian military commander's 120th birthday. Armenia’s Minister of Defense Vigen Sargsyan personally handed it to the institution during a solemn ceremony held at the Victory Museum's central hall - pantheon of commanders commemorating the Soviet heroes' feats during the Great Patriotic War.
Talking to old.aspu.am, Misak Melkonyan confessed that before starting the work he thought he knew Hovhannes Baghramyan, but many people, including himself, are only familiar with his military path.
“Actually, Baghramyan's image is multi-layered. He is one of the most beloved sons of our nation. I knew the purpose from the very beginning. The responsibility was much bigger because we were going to represent a country,” Mr. Melkonyan said adding that he was working with full potential.
An artist feels fully appreciated when he notices his work truly valued by visitors. At the end of the event, the director of the museum said, “Finally, we also had ‘a live’ Baghramyan.”
“I am easily separated from my works when I feel that they have found their rightful place,” Misak Melkonyan said adding that he is always guided by the principle of reflecting the inner world of the character in the external semblance.
Speaking about Marshal Baghramyan’s bust, the author said that he experiences certain feelings while creating each of his works, studies the life and activity of each character. "A battlefield, different situations, feelings and emotions… The type of Baghramyan as a military figure and human being was created in the result of their merger,” he said.
The video of the opening ceremony is available here.
