"I have tried to explore opportunities outside of painting, but like a river finding its way, I find that painting is the one path that I must follow." – Aren Shahnazaryan
The fervor for the visual language is a wondrous force, one that seems to come naturally to certain individuals. For Aren Shahnazaryan, the roots of this passion can be traced back to the early years of his life, where play served as an integral factor in shaping his experiences. As a child, Aren found himself engaged in a delightful dance between drawing and play. Even during mealtimes he could be found illustrating his ideas and thoughts while he spoke.
Though he harbored a variety of interests and hobbies, none could hold him in the same entranced state as painting. Indeed, for Aren, painting is not simply an activity or pastime but an essential aspect of his well-being. Without the opportunity to paint for an extended period, he finds himself feeling unwell, both mentally and physically.
Aren is fascinated by the fact that human genetics have evolved to accommodate visual language. Throughout the course of history, images have played a crucial role in the way we communicate. "Even children tend to delight in drawing before they can even speak," muses Aren. "And they have a remarkable ability to convey their thoughts and ideas through drawing."
Sadly, as people grow older, they tend to overlook the importance of visual language. However, for those who pursue it professionally or possess a passion for artistry, visual language becomes an indispensable tool. By focusing on expressing themselves visually, individuals can transform and expand their inner language. Furthermore, a growing dependence on verbal language in adulthood can lead to the loss of our ability to communicate visually, thereby reducing the use of visual language as a medium of expression.
Aren considers visual language to be an essential aspect of human ability. He firmly believes that images offer a distinct form of expression that differs from words. By embracing this diversity, we can fully tap into our creative potential and communicate in ways that are both impactful and meaningful.
“It is about not underestimating painting and using it to effectively communicate your sensations,” he says.
Aren's approach to painting is less concerned with expressing a specific concept or feeling and more focused on the interplay between him and the canvas. For him, the process of creating art is just as important, if not more so, than the final result. He sees the resulting image as a product of this unique interaction between the artist and the medium.
This approach to painting is akin to the ancient adage, "it's not where you go but how you get there." This sentiment holds true for many aspects of life, including personal growth, career advancement, and relationships. It emphasizes the importance of embracing the journey, the steps taken to reach a goal, and the valuable lessons learned along the way.
By embracing the journey, individuals can gain the experience necessary to develop the skills needed to succeed in life. Aren himself views the term "expression" as inadequate when it comes to painting. He approaches painting as a vital source of inspiration that allows him to realize his full potential.
As Aren begins to paint, he is not sure what the final image will be, for the process of creating is an unpredictable adventure where the outcome remains uncertain. His paintings do not convey a specific idea or tell a story. Instead, they arise from a nebulous, diverse, and chaotic situation that exists within his mind. Through painting, he captures and releases this chaos, and from it, an atmosphere, character, or situation emerges.
The resulting image embodies everything Aren has experienced, remembers, and has stored in his motor memory. This indistinct and turbulent situation takes on character in the painting, which in turn becomes the painting's atmosphere. In this way, Aren's paintings are less about expression and more about the journey of creating and the unique interaction between the artist and the medium.
Through the image, Aren recognizes the connection between the chaotic ideas of all his experiences, memories, and events and the structured, organized world that he perceives through his senses. Art serves as the medium that bridges this connection, and it knows no rules or predetermined order.
Aren regards the painting process as an exchange between himself and the image, where the painting not only expresses something about him but also something within him. It is a symbiotic relationship, and when he captures these elusive situations in the painting, he experiences a sense of relief that allows him to continue creating something new out of the chaos. Nonetheless, he acknowledges that it is easy to become lost in this process, "like a father lost" when the creation takes on a life of its own.
The process of painting can be compared to the way our brains work when images bubble up in our dreams. However, painting takes this process further by manifesting these images through a medium, thus creating something tangible and solid. This approach to painting allows the artist to capture the fleeting moments and atmosphere, bringing the language of painting to its full expression.
A prime example of this approach can be seen in Aren's Descent from the Cross series. When viewing these paintings, one may initially feel as if they are witnessing a depiction of the crucifixion. However, the parameters of the scene shift and become difficult to define, much like when one dreams of their childhood home, only to find that it looks nothing like the real thing. Although the composition and feeling may be right, there is something chaotic and inexplicable about the scene, leaving the viewer with a sense of knowing without being able to articulate it.
In his Descent from the Cross series, which includes The DftC, The Creepy Descent from the Cross, and The Funny DftC, Aren skillfully captures this feeling of inexplicable knowing. Through his approach to painting, he brings forth a world that is both chaotic and complete, leaving the viewer with a sense of having experienced something significant.
For Aren, the subject in a picture is merely a means of access, and the image itself can be abstract, always tethered to something different. The act of painting is not about expressing himself in a recognizable way in another language but rather is deeply connected to the material. The object in the picture serves as a guide, while the artist's chaotic thoughts serve as the medium that brings forth the image.
Aren's communication through painting has no ideological purpose, and any formulation that is possible arises due to a complex interplay of thoughts and experiences in his mind. When faced with a particular situation or challenge, he turns to painting as a way of discovering a solution. This process allows him to achieve a certain intensity in his work that comes not from reflection or thinking, but from a deeply intuitive and creative response to the question of what he is doing.
As Aren sees it, "If a painter is able to express themselves through their work, they are fortunate to be able to do so." These methods are deeply intertwined with Aren's character, yet they also give rise to fear and doubt. He experiences a unique challenge when he creates something new, realizing that he is the first person in history to have this particular experience, and this knowledge can be overwhelming. Additionally, since he is the one creating the new piece, it becomes a part of his identity, meaning that the fear of the unknown is multiplied because he is personally invested in the outcome. As a result, creating something new can be intimidating for him.
Aren's distinctive handwriting, which can be observed in his earliest childhood drawings, is what unites his works. As the artistic process for Aren is dynamic, it cannot be defined as purely stylistic. Rather, he understands the responsibility of expressing his independent opinion through his work, and he does not follow current trends or fashions prevalent in other fields like clothing. He believes that painting is not outdated and, like language, continues to be used, adding richness and depth to theories and ideas over time.
Building on his evolving style and desire to express his intentions clearly, Aren has recently shifted his focus to capturing moments of solitary calmness in his work. While his connection to nature, as seen in his series of tree stumps, has been crucial in his past work, he now removes elements from various sources to see what remains, delving deeper into the core of being. Paintings like Cup, Plate, and Red Table in Garden exemplify this shift, as they depict moments of quiet stillness rather than permanent objects found in nature.
"Painting offers endless possibilities, with infinite combinations of forms, colors, lines, shapes, textures, and structures," notes Aren. He believes that in the visual arts, objects should not be limited by external concepts and ideas. The challenge in painting is to free it from language. For Aren, the goal is to express his intentions as clearly and directly as possible. He reflects on his earlier works, which may not have expressed his intentions as clearly, to better understand their significance to him. Despite the lack of ego in his paintings, they continue to be an important and healing part of Aren's life.
Born in Armenia and cofounder of Spür, Aren Shahnazaryan's paintings reflect his intense visual language expressed through form and color. With an energetic brushwork and a bold approach to image-making, he seeks to create an atmosphere within each piece that reflects his personal experiences and sensations. He is deeply committed to the creative process, working intensively on each painting until it reaches a unique and distinct state. Since relocating to Germany in 2017, he has exhibited his work throughout Europe and continues to explore new possibilities in his ongoing artistic journey.
