Surgeon: “I have painted all the doctors and nurses of the hospital”
Today medics decorated one of the exhibition halls of the Artists Union of Armenia. The works, though, weren't professional. The authors of paintings and sculptures are famous and well-known medics in Armenia.
Organizer of the exhibition is Professor of Yerevan State Medical University Gagik Shahverdyan. He himself doesn't paint, but his love towards art made him gather the works of his colleagues and unite them for art lovers.
“I am neither Dashnak, nor pianist, but I have two weaknesses- Simon Zavaryan and Komitas. I always want so that art be in everyone, today’s youth needs that,” he says.
Works of father and son Chagharyans are in one corner of the exhibition entitled “Doctors paint”. Well known surgeon Levon Chagharyan not only keeps his father’s records relating to the medical sphere, but also his amateur works, paintings and sculptures. Levon Chagharyan is sure that all his talents were transferred to him genetically, “My first painting was my grandmother’s painting, I painted it during student years, my father saw it and told me to continue, and then I started painting. I have painted all the doctors and nurses of our hospital, and even their children and grandchildren and now I have started painting our actors and singers,” says the doctor smilingly.
In reply to the question medicine or painting, Levon Chagharyan answers immediately, “I am fond of surgery, I haven’t left hospitals since the third year of university, but I always paint, I need that.”
Surgeon Victor Babasyan has been engaged in painting from young years. For the last time he painted at the age of 35 and he presented those years’ works for today’s exhibition. But he confesses that he misses brush and canvas, “When I retire, I will resume painting.”
Victor Babasyan is sure that every good medic must have a piece of art in him. Especially surgery demands a sense of unique art, “Most of the medics are fond of people and nature. One should be a dreamer, and painting, writing and medicine as well are connected with it. Speaking to people, explaining them, perceiving, sharing their pain and problems is also art.”
Three days’ exhibition is dedicated to physician-painter, former Rector of the Medical University Aram Shahverdyan.
