Armenian artist: I wish money owners also had a little good taste

^{Photo by Samvel Sevada (Samvel Sevada’s studio)}

The press recently confirmed the reports about the newly-opened AA Auction Company’s plans to organize the first ever auction of Armenian artists’ works. The participants of the event, to be held in both live and online formats, will be offered to purchase items for up to $30,000. The organizers have explained their initiative by the permanent supply of precious pieces of art in Armenia. Tert.am has interviewed artist and photographer Samvel Sevada to know his opinion about the advantages of such an event. 

What benefits can the auction offer to the artists living and creating in Armenia?

It can offer a lot. The more they engage in such practices, the much better. As for auctions, they are an incentive for a very good movement. That is, the prices will begin to grow a little bit, which is strictly important to our present-day painters.

Do you think pieces by the smart fellows may pave way to the auction, leaving very good artists in the shadow?

Maybe, that’s quite possible. But the smart person here is not the painter who does his job in a studio, but rather, the agents who earn money on them. That’s the main purpose of auctions.

To the best of my knowledge, there are good artists whose canvases sell for high prices without any action, but there are also painters, who despite being good, never manage to have their pieces sold.

That’s what happens around the world. There’s no such practice as determining whether this item is good or that one is bad. It depends on how they work; there are companies and individual entrepreneurs who appear smart enough to raise an artist’s reputation before selling his or her item. Galleries do the same; they each have 10-12 painters whom they give an order. So those artists paint a canvass. Galleries begin earning money on them, increasing the price step by step and making a legend out of all that a little bit. That’s normal.

What about Armenia? Do we have a school of such agents?.

It is beginning to develop gradually; it is actually those small galleries that act as agents. There are 10 or 12 of them in Yerevan, as far as I know.

What is the lowest price for the best artists’ works?

They vary depending on the artists; there’s no common standard. My sketches, for example, range from $800-$1,000 now, but everyone has his price.

Do you think Armenia has developed an internal demand for buying fine art canvases, apart from the very few officials who appreciate pieces of art and own private collections? For example, Armenian Ambassador to Ukraine Andranik Manukyan, who is among the biggest collectors, says in interviews that he always recommends works of art as presents to be given at weddings and solemn ceremonies.

As I said a short while ago, it is developing little by little. I would rather those having money also had a little good taste. Very often I have seen a person take pride in an average painter who has created a reputation for himself. The [Yerevan] vernissage offers wonderful works. I was there yesterday; I go and stare [at the paintings] for hours.

The vernisage in general imparts a nice color to our city, its artists and the people.