Known for his unique hyper-realistic works, U.S.-based Armenian artist and painter Tigran Dzitoghtsyan is currently in Yerevan. As you look at his pictures, it is hard to believe that they are not done with the help of modern technologies. Tigran uses a canvas and oil colors, and his source of inspiration is people and the world around them.

For the 40-year-old artist, visiting Armenia in the summer has already become a tradition that he has been preserving for 18 years now. Tsitoghdzyan talked about his past, his longing for Yerevan and his plans in an interview with Hayern Aysor.

Hayern Aysor: Tigran, you have been living and working abroad for many years. What do you miss the most about Armenia?

Tigran Tsitoghdzyan: My parents and friends, of course. I miss talking to my relatives and close ones. I miss Yerevan, my childhood and my youth…When I come back, I love taking walks in Yerevan. I have so many memories on every corner of every street…

Hayern Aysor: I know you visit Armenia often. I think you come every summer. Do you try to find more energy in Armenia, or…?

T. T.: I have been visiting Armenia every summer for many years now. Most of my friends live far away from Armenia, and every summer, we try to meet in Armenia. Yes, I get energy in Armenia. I feel mentally and physically energetic. I work a lot in New York and don’t even have time to sleep, but the important thing is being with relatives and everyone else, just like 20 years ago when we were all living in Armenia.

Hayern Aysor: Last year you also opened your personal exhibition at Cafesjian Center for the Arts. What was the “Mirrors” project about? Was it successful?

T. T.: It was a very important exhibition for me, and not as a large museum exhibit. I hadn’t showcased my work in Armenia for about 20 years, and I had been waiting for that day for a long time. The Armenian audience matters a lot to me. It is some kind of spiritual basis when you feel the support of your compatriots. I believe the exhibition was a great success, and I have very bright memories of it. (Tigran Tsitoghdzyan’s “Mirrors” series shows his understanding of the native land, portraying the collective image of Armenia in its current transition and in its past-ed.).

Hayern Aysor: Let’s talk about the topics of your pictures. Who are the people in your pictures?

T. T.: They are the people around me, and in this case, they are women. It is safe to say this series represents my questions about the beauty and essence of a woman, the answers to which I am personally trying to find in the process.

Hayern Aysor: Is this style of modern art a common direction in New York, or is it your “monopoly”?

T. T.: I wouldn’t say it is common. Although there is a hyper-realistic movement, I don’t consider myself hyper-realistic. I portray the illusion of reality.

Hayern Aysor: Do you know contemporary painters in Armenia? Do you have any contacts with the local artists?

T. T.: Yes, I have many artist friends. We always contact each other whenever I am in Armenia. I am very interested in the development of the arts in Armenia.

Hayern Aysor: I believe you have a son. Has he ever been to Armenia?

T. T.: My son is 6 years old. He joins me during my trips to Armenia in the summers. Unfortunately, he doesn’t speak Armenian yet. He only knows Russian and English, but I want to teak him Armenian. We might start this summer.

Hayern Aysor: What are your plans for the future?

T. T.: I am about to finish working on a documentary film that is being produced by Arthur Balder. The film presents what I have been doing for the past year, my exhibitions, my experiences and even my imagination. The film stars many well-known actors and models whom I have painted over the past year, including an Oscar-nominated actress on whose “mirror” I am currently working on.

Tigran Tsitoghdzyan was born in Yerevan. He started painting at the age of 5. At the age of 10, he held his first personal exhibition showcasing nearly 102 oil color paintings that have been shown in Spain, Russia, Japan and the USA. The young and talented painter is one of the descendants of the extended family of the famous Tsitoghdzyans of Gyumri.

In 1999, he graduated from Yerevan State Academy of Fine Arts, after which he continued his studies at the École Cantonale d’Art du Valais of Switzerland where he obtained his BA in 2002 and his MAPS in 2005. Since 2009, he has been living in New York.

Interview by Julieta Matevosyan

Photos from Tigran Tsitoghdzyan’s Facebook page