Arshak Sarkissian

Arshak Sarkissian is a talented young painter from Armenia currently showing a series of works that combine the passion and texture of expressionism with a sensibility that is rooted very much in the here and now. In some ways his work is reminiscent of work by Paula Rego, with strange human-bird hybrids appearing in several of the images. But the fantasy element is restrained by an intellect that recognises that a young artist working today cannot really afford to escape completely into a magic realist “other” world. Essentially Sarkissian creates history paintings of now. They show a parallel universe in which the composition of space is clearly very different to space in our world, but is nonetheless convincing. In that alternative reality figures that are akin to people in our world act as extreme, but recognisable, versions of themselves.

But like Old Masters, Sarkissian also has to use real drawing skills to construct space in his images. And there is no doubt that Sarkissian is a formidable draughtsman. His pen and ink drawings alone would make a great show, not least by demonstrating how real contemporary drawing should be done. Clearly Sarkissian is developing into a formidable artist who offers a genuine way for ward for contemporary painting at a time when art needs new leadership. He does not present a rehash of modernism, or attempt to resurrect figurative styles from the past that have no relevance to now. He has absorbed historic art and puts it to use in engaging materially and physically with our world. The result is strong, passionate and witty painting with which we can engage.
Michael Paraskos, writer

Opening Hours
Monday: 17:00 - 20:00
Tuesday-Friday: 10:30-12:30 & 17:00 - 20:00
Saturday: 10:30-12:30