Hovhannes: In Syria I had a desire to become a doctor, now I have decided to become an artist”

Soldier, church, tricolor…  Behind the thematic of this painting it turned out to be a hidden story.

During the concert “Nansen and children” held at Komitas Chamber Music hall I met a 12-year-old Hovhanes Levonyan who was already completing the painting with small color solutions.

The boy called the painting “My father” and it turned out to be a real story:

–         I tried to depict my father with his friends. My father died during the war in Syria. That is why I decided to depict him in a military uniform. And I really wanted to depict Church as well, so I painted St. Sargis church, flag and tricolor, – said Sargis.

It is already one year since little Hovhannes moved to live in Armenia.

“My grandmother and uncle are with us, but my mother and aunts are at different places –Syria, Lebanon, It was good before… we were together, but not now… I tell them to come and join us, they promise to do so but do not come yet”, – he says smiling.

Together with his sister Hovhannes attends art school named after Lazar Saryan. He likes painting very much.

Full text in Armenian