Hayern Aysor’s correspondent meets and interviews Syrian-Armenians in Armenia from time to time. This time, Hayern Aysor’s correspondent sat down for an interview with Silva Gazazian-Adourian.

Hayern Aysor: Mrs. Adourian, I first met you on the day of the exhibition-sale organized by the RA Ministry of Diaspora, and I haven’t forgotten your wonderful embroidered items portraying Van, Svaz and Norvekean…Who taught you how to embroider? Who was your first teacher?

Silva Gazazian-Adourian: The majority of Syrian-Armenian women, and almost all, sew and embroider. First, I must say that it is a God-given talent that has been transmitted to us from one generation to the next. My masters and teachers were my relatives. My mother and grandmother would sew and embroider. I have three sisters and one brother. My sisters also have the talent.

Hayern Aysor: Where do you come from?

S. G. A.: I am from Van. My ancestors moved to Aintab, and after the Armenian Genocide, they moved to Aleppo where my parents were born. My siblings and I were born there as well.

Hayern Aysor: Mrs. Adourian, how long have you been living in Armenia?

S. G. A.: We moved to the Homeland about three-and-a-half years ago. First, we came together, but my sons left for abroad due to unemployment. My son and his family moved to Italy and are currently living in Milan. My daughter and her family live in Lyon, France. My son has two daughters, and my daughter has a son. We miss them tremendously and wait for the day when we will all be together again. My husband and I live in Armenia. I embroider. My husband used to work as a mechanic in Aleppo. He is currently unemployed. He is way above his age for pension. However, he doesn’t receive any pension.

Hayern Aysor: You amaze me. Your husband doesn’t work, and you only embroider and have almost no income. How do you earn a living?

S. G. A.: Currently, we are using the money that we brought from Aleppo. Thank God, sometimes my items are sold when I showcase them at exhibitions. That’s how we live. The important thing is that we are in Armenia, our Homeland and that we feel safe here.

Hayern Aysor: Have you thought about opening your personal exhibition? Your items are perfect and amazing and don’t seem to be handmade.

S. G. A.: I embroider with my heart and soul. As for the images, topics and ornaments, it seems as though I see them in my dreams and start giving them life the next day. Opening a personal exhibition is a good idea, but I don’t know whom to contact and how to organize it. I need someone who can support me and provide me with guidance.

Hayern Aysor: Silva, in that regard, I must say that perhaps this meeting wasn’t by chance. This is all I can say for now…Your works and the frames around your works are beautiful. They are not square or rectangular, but round, circular and oval. I have seen such frames around old family photos of Western Armenians.

S. G. A.: You are right. My works are placed in very unique frames. I brought some of them from Aleppo, and the rest are made by a Syrian-Armenian master.

Hayern Aysor: As I understood, your works mainly stay at home. Can’t you sell them at the Vernisazh market or in gift shops?

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S. G. A.: Yes, they are mainly at my house. I have a Syrian friend at the Vernisazh market. I would give it to her to place on her table. There aren’t many buyers. People spend more money on food and to take care of daily expenses. It’s cold now, and business isn’t too good. I have tried to present my items at some places, but the sellers have doubled the price that I set, and that is why they haven’t been sold. I sew and embroider more so that I have peace of mind…We Syrian-Armenians are in a situation that is a cause for concern. My fellow Armenians from Aleppo have opened shops and stores in the area near Republic Square. I also opened a store, but it didn’t meet my expectations, and so I closed it. People couldn’t see where it was, and that was probably the reason why.

Hayern Aysor: When peace is established in Syria, will you return? Will you stay in Armenia, or will you leave for abroad to be near one of your children?

S. G. A.: We will return to Syria to defend our home and our properties. Our house remains standing. We always see it in our dreams. We will go, but we won’t be far from the Homeland. It is our support, our hope, our fortress. If we didn’t have a homeland, where could we have gone during the war? We came to Armenia where we were very well received and have never felt any discrimination. We easily adapted to the new life. It is a pleasure for me to communicate with the locals. I have no difficulty. We’re all Armenians, right?

Hayern Aysor: Mrs. Adourian, when I entered your apartment, I noticed an interesting work that is not at all similar to your embroidered items. If it is not a secret, could you tell me what it is?

It is no secret. It is my new item that I haven’t finished embroidering. I have stared embroidering Christmas napkins and tablecloths. I am thinking that an exhibition-sale might be held before Christmas. Those works are different in terms of color. They are shinier and more festive.

Hayern Aysor: Thank you, Mrs. Adourian. I hope to attend your personal exhibition soon and enjoy hearing about the establishment of peace that Syria has been waiting for, along with all Syrian-Armenians.

Karine Avagyan