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Vahagn Amiryan
Vahagn Amiryan represents the art of woodcarving that emerged in Armenia, thanks to the Museum of Woodcarving in Yerevan and its founder Henrik Solakhyan. As the teacher and advisor to a generation of craftsmen, Solakhyan profoundly shaped woodcarving in Armenia. Founded in 1977, his museum became a workshop in the literal sense of the word for many present-day masters.
For instance, Amiryan began attending this "workshop" in 1979, when he was only twelve years old. Amiryan is also a historian, using his profession to delve deeper into the history, traditions, and symbolism of woodcarving. "Wooden artifacts can tell us inexhaustible stories about peoples' lives and customs," he explains. "About the culture of bread, kitchen habits, and so on." During the Folklife Festival, Amiryan carved the capital of the mother pillar, which is the symbolic axis of the home. |