Ara Harutyunyan (Armenian: Արա Հարությունյան; March 28, 1928 – February 28, 1999) Armenian sculptor–master of monuments, graphic artist, People's Artist of Armenia, member of Academy of Fine Arts of USSR and RF, professor. His works are multifaceted and diverse; he is the author of more than 40 sites, monuments and architectural sculptures in Armenia and abroad. Ara Harutyunyan managed to implement many creative ideas. He is the ancestor and the founder of the architectural sculptures in Armenia, the author of grandiose monuments, urban monuments, indoor sculpture and brilliant graphics.Among them are such iconic works as the Sardarapat Memorial, the reliefs of Sundukyan State Academic Theatre, the portal of Erebuni Museum, the obelisk to the soldiers of the 89th Taman Division, the monument to the head of French anti-fascist resistance movement Missak Manouchian and many others.
Ara Harutyunyan was born on 28 March 1928. His father was a musician, contrabassist, and a chorister of the State Opera Theatre. In his childhood Ara was interested in painting, Vrubel’s works especially attracted his attention. His passion for sculpture started when during one visit to some village he found a piece of tufa and using the available tools hewed out a female’s head. After 7 years of studying at school A.Harutyunyan enrolled the Faculty of Painting of Art College from which he later switched to the Faculty of Sculpture. In 1948 two of his student works were represented at the exhibition in the foyer of the Spendiaryan Theatre (Yerevan).
After graduating from college Ara Harutyunyan entered the Yerevan Institute of Fine Arts and Theatre, from which he graduated with honors in 1954. His graduation work was a bronze statue of Komitas, later installed on the composer’s grave. His early works:
Monument-bust of the writer Muratsan (1955), installed at school named after Muratsan.Monument of V.Belinsky (1957), installed in Yerevan at school named after Belinsky.Monument-bust of the writer A. Shirvanzade (1958), installed at school named after A.Shirvanzade.Portraits of the old man and girl (1957)Headstones for the artist Y.Tatevosyan (1961) and Doctor S.Sogomonyan (1962)In his later works, the sculptor finds his own style, where the nature, mood, and features of the characters are conveyed without the needless scrutinizing of details, due to the proficient use of simple forms, giving his works a sense of monumentality. His sculpture "The Portrait of Ida Kar" (1957) is considered to be the crucial moment. The following works combine the skillful use of national ornaments and simple but still plastic and expressive forms. This is a monument to the heroes who died for the liberation of Zangezour (1960) which is a low basalt stele with an ornament.
In 1970 HArutyunyan was awarded a Diploma of the Union of Architects of the USSR for the reliefs on the building of the Museum "Erebouni" in Yerevan, in 1972 he was awarded the title of Honored Artist of the Armenian SSR. Since 1974 was giving lessons at the Yerevan State Academy of Fine Arts. In 1988 Harutyunyan visited Philippines. He worked on the portrait of the first female president in the history of Philippines and Asia as a whole - Corazon Aquino, that was presented to her. For the creation of Philippine President Corazon Aquino’s bright and deep image the sculptor was awarded the medal of "Friendship of Peoples". In 1988 he was confirmed in the rank of a professor and was elected as a corresponding member of the Academy of Fine Arts of the USSR, Russian Federation. In 1981 he was awarded a medal "Badge of Honor"
Main works
1958. Lioness of Geghard. The image of the decorative sculpture "Lioness" in Geghard is currently used in the design of the famous Armenian cognac brand Great Valley.1960. Monument of professor R. Yeolyan. Goris.Armenia1961. Obelisk in honor of the soldiers of the 89th Taman Division perished in the Great Patriotic War for the liberation of Sevastopol.1961. North facade of Yerevan wine plant. Bas-reliefs. “Fight with the lion” and “Foxes”1963. Dawn. The figure is made of aluminum chasing. Installed on the highway Yerevan-Sevan1963. The monument to Sayat Nova is one of the most famous works by Harutyunyan. The monumental drinking fountain is represented by a wall of white marble blocks, with gaps between them. The head of ashug is as if stepping out of it. One the opposite side there is a relief depicting women of three Transcaucasian nations. Yerevan.1964. Monumental drinking fountain "Friendship between Yerevan and Carrara". Installed in Yerevan and Carrara (Italy)1964. Monumental drinking fountain "Friendship between Armenia and Estonia”. Qanaker. Armenia1965. Monumental drinking-fountain to the victims of Armenian Genocide of 1915. Yerevan.1965. Vahagn the Wishup Fighter. Northern entrance to the city of Yerevan1966. Builder-eagle. Southern entrance to the city of YerevanIn 1966 Harutyunyan accomplishes the portal of Armenian Academic Drama Theatre. The height of portal is 5 meters. From the left side there is a figure of a woman embodying renaissance; above the portal are masks symbolizing drama, comedy, wisdom, the sign of eternal motion, airy female dancing figures and a head of a woman in the national attire. On the right is the head of the king Artavazd II, who created the first Armenian theatre in the city of Ashtarak in 53 BC. In 1976 Harutyunyan finishes working on the sculptural ensemble of the Armenian Academic Theatre named after G.Sundukyan. Monument to G.Sundukyan (1972).Sirin.Basrelief (1976.)Yerevan.1966. Fight of Vahagn with a dragon. Entrance to the city of Kaphan, ArmeniaIn 1967-1968 Harutyunyan creates the sculpture “Mother Armenia” installed in Yerevan in Victory Park.“Mother Armenia” the largest monument in Armenia.In 1968 Ara Harutyunyan creates the grandiose architectural and sculptural complex, dedicated to the heroes of Sardarapat, located 25 kilometers far from Echmiadzin, in the place where the victory was won by Armenians over the Turkish army. Armenia. (together with the architect R.Israelyan and sculptors S.Manasyan and A.Shahinyan)1968-1969.Erebuni Museum (Main facade - Argishty and the founders of the city.Southern facade – Lion hunting, Northern facade – God Haldi.) Yerevan.1969 The architectural sculpture "Battle of Sardarapat" was nominated for the USSR State Prize.1969 Monument to the poet H. Hakopyan. Installed in front of the Cultural Center named after S.Kirov. Yerevan1974 Fertility. Decorative sculpture. Installed in Kishinev in Friendship Park1975 Monument to the heroes of Musa Ler. Installed in the village Musa Ler of Echmiadzin. Armenia1977 Awarded the title of People's Artist of the Armenian SSR. Elected as member of the Union of Artists of the USSR1977-1978.Creative visit to France due to working on the creation of the monument to MisakManouchian.Installed in Paris suburb of Ivry-sur-Seine.1978 Muse. Decorative sculpture.House of Journalists. Yerevan1978 Monument to S. Shaumyan. Stepanavan, Armenia1979 Sculptural decoration of the facade of the Cultural Center in Razdan. Armenia.1982 PersonalexhibitioninYerevan.1982 Monument to workers "Glory to Labor" Yerevan. Dismantled in 19971982 Monument-bust to the poet H. Tumanyan. InstalledinBatumi1983 Personal exhibition in the Central House of Artists.KrymskiyVal. Moscow1986 Was published the monography “Ara Arutyunyan”, series “Masters of Soviet art”, Moscow. Author B.Zurabov1988 Monument to the composer Komitas, installed in the park of the Yerevan State Conservatory1989 Sculptural decoration of the children music school after ZareSaakyants in the city of Abovyan. Armenia1995 Personal exhibition in the halls of the Academy of Arts of the USSR, Russian Federation.MoscowPortrait of a student. 1954. Bronze. Museum of Fine Arts. KirovakanKomitas. 1954. Marble. 54х47х30. National Gallery of Armenia. YerevanPoet H. Hakopyan. 1956.Marble. 56х100х50. Museum of M Abegyan. YerevanYouth.Terracotta 1962.123х60х40. National Gallery of Armenia. YerevanYouth. Colored gypsum.121х57х35. National Gallery of Armenia. YerevanPortrait of a People's architect of the USSR R.Israyelyan. 1970. Tufa. Museum of Fine Arts. KirovakanCountry of Nairi. Figure. 1970. Bronze. 55x54x44.State Tretyakov Gallery. MoscowFertility. Bronze. 1970. Museum of Fine Arts. KirovakanKomitas.Head.1972. Marble. 67×30×35 House of Choral Society. Lobby. YerevanKomitas.Figure. 1972.Bronze. House of Choral Society. YerevanKomitas.Full-length figure. Bronze. Tuf. 1972.63×16×13. State Tretyakov Gallery. MoscowGabriel Sundukyan. Head. Bronze. 1972.Russian Dramatic Theatre after Stanislavskiy. Lobby. YerevanPortrait of the producer V. Adjemyan. 1974. Bronze. 34х25х30. National Gallery of Armenia. YerevanPortrait of R. Kaprielyan, Test pilot and the Hero of the Soviet Union and test pilot. Bronze1975. 52×33×55. Fund of the International Confederation of Unions of Artists. MoscowRipsime.Figure. Bronze.1976.33х18х8Frantz Werphel. Head. 1976. Gypsum. Museum of the architectural complex of Musa Ler. Echmiadzin districtPlea (Prayer) Bronze and stone.58х25х25. Fund of the International Confederation of Unions of Artists.MoscowThinker.Figure. 1978. Bronze, artificial stone. 68х28х48.State Tretyakov Gallery. MoscowWinner. 1978. Bronze. 74х39х16. National Gallery of Armenia. YerevanCollapse of Ani. 1978. Bronze. 25х46х22.State Tretyakov Gallery. MoscowPortrait of the daughter Susanna. Marble. 1978.45,5x32x48,5.Fund of the International Confederation of Unions of Artists. MoscowCall. Bronze. 1978. 55х74х30.State Tretyakov Gallery. MoscowPortrait of People's artist of the Armenian SSR F. Mkrtchyan. 1979. Bronze. 38х29х32. State Tretyakov Gallery. MoscowPortrait of the Doctor K. Karagulyan. 1980. Bronze. 36x33x30Portrait of H. Liloyan. 1980.Bronze. 36x21x30Portrait of L. Nersesyan. 1980. Bronze.35х25х30.Portrait of the singer L.Zaqaryan. 1980. Marble .41х50х30Winegrower. 1980. Bronze. 37,5х15х19. National Gallery of Armenia. YerevanPortrait of Ruzan. 1980. Terracotta 33х23х23Portrait of the Palestinian sculptor Muna Saudi.1982. Bronze.48x29x32. .Fund of the International Confederation of Unions of Artists.MoscowPortrait of People's artist of the Armenian SSR Sos Sargsyan. 1982.Bronze.36х25х29.Fertility.Bronze .1983.64х28х28.Museum of Fine Arts. KirovakanHope. Bronze. 1984.93х38х28.Portrait of Academician G. Brutyan. 1984. Marble. 40х58х29Komitas. Bronze. 26х25х28.Museum of Komitas.YerevanKara-Murza.Gypsum. 45х160х40. National Gallery of Armenia. YerevanHatsagorts Adalyan. Colored gypsum.50х50х30. Union of Artists. ArmeniaMesrop Mashtots. Gypsum.109х55х25. Resort and spa management.YerevanArchitect Trdat. Bronze. 79х24,5х34.Fund of the International Confederation of Unions of Artists.MoscowPortrait of the President of Philippines Corazon Aquino. 1988. Bronze. Installed in the Malacanang Palace.Manila, Philippines.
