The years that Hrazdan Tokmajian spent at the Martiros Saryan Academy of AGBU Aleppo left an indelible trace in his life. Despite the war in Aleppo, he continues to organize the lives of Aleppo-Armenian children with the faith that peace will reestablished.

Painter, Director of the Martiros Saryan Academy of AGBU Aleppo Hrazdan Tokmajian had always wanted to become a painter since childhood. When the time came for him to choose his profession, he immediately chose to become a painter, got accepted to Panos Terlemezyan Art School and went on to continue his studies in the Department of Painting and Drawing at the Armenian State Pedagogical University after Khachatur Abovyan. He is a landscape painter. Mr. Tokmajian’s uncle, Tigran Tokmajian played a huge role in his decision and served as a source of inspiration for the boy.

“My uncle would travel from Yerevan to Gyumri to paint for me and give me advice. In just seconds he would draw images on paper with a pencil, and I would admire them,” Hrazdan Tokmajian says.

Hrazdan Tokmajian loves and praises the Martiros Saryan Academy and has indescribable memories that he shared with “Hayern Aysor”. “After moving from Armenia to Syria, I spent 22 years of my life at the Academy. I had good times at the Academy and organized different kinds of events. In these troubling times, we always fondly remember the camping events in Kessab where the students would paint in the heart of nature. Let’s hope we’ll have the chance to relive those beautiful days,” Mr. Tokmajian said. Despite the military operations in Aleppo, the Martiros Saryan Academy remains open. The children continue to attend lessons. The only thing that has changed is the number of students since most Armenian families have left Syria, while the others live in districts where the roads are dangerous. So, they can’t come to the Academy due to their safety.

Today, the Academy has 30 students under the age of 12 and 20 students above the age of 12. The parents motivate their children to attend lessons. Seeing their devotion, the director feels happy that the Armenians continue to create in Aleppo that was once a city where culture thrived and assures that the administration has created all the favorable conditions for the students to attend the Academy and get away from the melancholy for a couple of hours.

Tokmajian considered the organizing of the “Aleppo: Troublesome Days” exhibition in Armenia an important event and mentioned that the first exhibition was held in Aleppo last year. “The children portrayed their feelings and experiences, the changes taking place in their lives, their fears and emotions and their dream of a bright future. We organized the exhibition so that the children could ease their tension and feel less stressful. After the exhibition in Armenia, the children will continue to work with more energy and motivation in Aleppo,” Hrazdan Tokmajian concluded.

The RA Ministry of Diaspora granted Hrazdan Tokmajian the Arshile Gorky Medal of the RA Ministry of Diaspora for disseminating and popularizing Armenian arts in the Armenian Diaspora, as well as for his great contributions to the development of the Armenia-Diaspora partnership with his creations. On that occasion, Hrazdan Tokmajian said the following: “I’ll return to Aleppo and continue my job, but now as Your Hrazdan Tokmajian…”

Gevorg Chichyan