Mariam Aslamazyan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mariam Aslamazian
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| Born | 20 October 1907 |
| Died | 16 July 2006 (aged 98) |
Mariam Aslamazyan (born October 20, 1907 – died July 16, 2006) was a famous Soviet painter. She was known as a "People's Artist" in both Armenia and the entire Soviet Union, which is a very high honor for artists.
Mariam was born near a city called Alexandropol, which is now known as Gyumri. Some people called her the "Armenian Frida Kahlo." This is because she painted scenes of traditional Armenian life. Her paintings used bright, modern colors, and she had a unique personal style. She also painted many self-portraits where she wore traditional Armenian clothes. Mariam had a very successful career as an independent woman artist. This was impressive because, at the time, art was mostly a male-dominated field.
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Mariam's Artistic Journey
Mariam Aslamazyan learned from great teachers like Stepan Aghajanian and Petrov-Vodkin. She became known for her unique style of still life paintings and portraits. These paintings often had bright, flat colors and decorative patterns. She was also a talented artist who worked with ceramics.
Influences on Her Art
Mariam's art was inspired by several different styles. She was influenced by Western modern artists such as Henri Matisse and Paul Cézanne. She also looked to earlier Armenian artists like Martiros Saryan. Mariam also created art that followed the "Socialist Realism" style. This was a popular style in the Soviet Union at the time. One famous example is her painting The Return of the Hero (1943). For this painting, she received the Medal "For the Defence of the Caucasus".
Travels and Diplomacy Through Art
Mariam Aslamazyan had a very successful career within the Soviet system. She received official recognition and support. The Artists' Union even gave her money to travel around the world. She visited many countries, including Algeria, Argentina, Belgium, China, Germany, France, India, Italy, Japan, Madagascar, Spain, Sweden, the Netherlands, Egypt, Syria, and Yugoslavia.
Building Bridges with India
In 1957, the Soviet government sent Mariam on a special trip to India. Her goal was to help build friendly relationships between the two countries through art. At the end of her trip, an exhibition was held to show the paintings she had created in India. Indira Gandhi, who later became the Prime Minister of India, attended this exhibition. Indira Gandhi even appeared in some of Mariam's paintings! Mariam made three more trips to India in 1970, 1973, and 1975. These visits were very important in creating good relationships between India and the Soviet Union.
Indira Gandhi's Visit to Armenia
In 1976, Indira Gandhi visited the Soviet Union, including Soviet Armenia. She chose to visit Armenia partly because of Mariam Aslamazyan. Mariam had already visited India several times. Before Gandhi's trip, Mariam had received the Jawaharlal Nehru Award from the Indian government. This award was for a series of paintings she made about India. During that time, she met with Indira Gandhi.
At one meeting, Gandhi noticed Mariam's traditional Armenian silver belt. She asked about it, and Mariam explained it was a special family item passed down through generations. Mariam offered it as a gift, but Gandhi politely refused. Gandhi said that the portrait Mariam had painted of her father, Jawaharlal Nehru, was a wonderful gift. She also told Mariam that she planned to visit the Soviet Union, and wanted to see Armenia because she had heard many good things about it.
Legacy and Collections
Mariam Aslamazyan passed away in Moscow and was buried in Yerevan's Komitas Pantheon. In recent years, more and more people have become interested in her artwork. Her paintings have been shown in many modern art exhibitions.
The Gallery of Mariam and Eranuhi Aslamazyan Sisters is located in their hometown. It holds a large collection of paintings and ceramic works by Mariam and her sister, Eranuhi Aslamazyan, who was also an artist. You can see their art there all the time. Mariam's work is also kept in the National Gallery of Armenia and the Derfner Judaica Museum.
The Aslamazyan sisters were important not just for their art, but also for their love for their homeland. They showed Armenian culture in many cities around the world. They always said that Armenia was their biggest inspiration for their art.
See also
In Spanish: Mariam Aslamazian para niños
