YEREVAN, Armenia — On June 29, reflecting on history, culture, and influence of art, the American University of Armenia (AUA) held an exhibition showcasing selected paintings by Sumbat Der Kiureghian, donated to AUA by Eric and Edwin Papoyans upon the suggestion of their aunt, Emilia Gordon. The event displayed the artwork offering insight into Der Kiureghian’s vision, passions, and creative journey as an artist.
Der Kiureghian was born in 1913 in New Julfa, Isfahan, Iran, and is the most prominently celebrated watercolorist of the historic city. He was inspired by Western and Eastern artistic traditions, and incorporated Armenian and Iranian influences into his works. The artwork depicts scenes in his hometown and the everyday life of people in the nearby villages and towns.
The event opened by AUA President Dr. Bruce Boghosian thanking the AUA community, faculty, and staff for attending, and was followed by a presentation by Dr. Armen Der Kiureghian, co-founder and president emeritus of AUA, reflecting on his father’s life, legacy, and impact through his artwork across Iran and the world.
“In Iran, he is considered as one of the few masters, if not the master of watercolor. He’s the one who brought freestyle watercolor to Iran,” Dr. Kiureghian remarked. “He would go through villages and small cities for days every year. He would be gone for a month or two and would come back with a stack of watercolor paintings,” he added.
Throughout his life, he painted thousands of watercolor, gouache, and oil paintings that are now spread throughout the world in private collections and museums. Der Kiureghian lived in Iran until 1980, then moved to the United States, where he died in 1999. He visited Armenia in 1991 and had an exhibit in the National Picture Gallery. His works and impact as an artist continue to live on and inspire new generations of artists.
Dr. Der Kiureghian showed the picture of a large book entitled Iranian Watercolor, published in the 1990s, that features the top five watercolorists of Iran at the time. Of the 100 paintings depicted, 36 are by Sumbat. Reading the names of the artists, he remarked that four out of the five were Armenian.
Following Dr. Der Kiureghian’s remarks, Chair of History and Theory of Armenian Art at Yerevan State University, Dr. Levon Chookaszian, reflected on Der Kiureghian’s art and said “He was not just describing those places as geographical places, he was describing people’s lives, he was depicting people who were friendly to him, where he received hospitality in villages when he was staying there and painting,” he reflected.
The event concluded with a reception, where the attendees had the opportunity to engage in a meaningful conversation and enjoy the artworks that were displayed. AUA is grateful to have the opportunity to showcase Der Kiureghian’s works, contributing to the cultural enrichment of the University and its community.
Founded in 1991, the American University of Armenia (AUA) is a private, independent university located in Yerevan, Armenia, affiliated with the University of California, and accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC) in the United States. AUA provides local and international students with Western-style education through top-quality undergraduate and graduate degree and certificate programs, promotes research and innovation, encourages civic engagement and community service, and fosters democratic values.
