Khachkar - A Masterpiece Artwork with Ancient History

Introduction:

We are presented with a great opportunity to introduce to the world a masterpiece of all times - a hand crafted artwork called Khachkar, performed on a natural "Red Tuf" stone by one individual; a talented sculptor of our days, Hratch Karapetian.

A spectator can't help but wonder if this work is even humanly possible to achieve. It is absolutely breathtaking, puzzling, and challenging for any art lover who will attempt to understand how this piece of stone was given a life in which you can read the past, the present, and the future - all at the same time. It is simply amazing and leaves a majestic impression that puts it in a category of its own without any compromise in competition.

Description:

This stone has been shaped with a combination of symbols that represent Christianity in conjunction with ideas of Peace, Strength, Freedom, Innocence, and Infinity. The top part of Khachkar is adorned with the face of Virgin Mary, whose hair is spread out as an uninterrupted tread throughout the entire stone, forming the background of the Khachkar. On the right top corner, the symbol of pigeon represents peace and on the left top corner, the symbol of eagle represents freedom to unlimited heights. The bottom left corner is symbolized with a tiger representing strength and the right corner with arias for infinity.

Given that the nature of the sculpture can be perceived as strictly religious, it is important to mention the origin of the Khachkar, the goal of the sculptor while creating this artwork, and the outcome that was ultimately achieved.

History of Ancient Khachkar:

There are stories that were read from the ancient monuments and inscriptions that were engraved on rocks about a patriarch (nahapet) by name Hayk who gave birth to the Armenian race. He was born in Babylon but moved with his wife and sons to the northern areas, to the country of Ararat where he settled in an estate at the foot of a mountain which previously had been built by Zruan together with his father and brothers. Hayk was a great warrior who defeated enemies and secured a life for his family and the next generations that followed. Before his death, he expressed a wish that the people of Armenia will turn every rough stone they found into some kind of artwork in a form of a sculpture. From that time, Armenians started shaping and sculpting rocks. Each one of them was unique and one of a kind. But many intruders stole, destroyed, and damaged these creations leaving the people of Armenia with no choice but to come up with a different idea - to sculpt huge boulders, even mountains in a form of a monument and leave them under the open sky. This was the beginning of creating vast number of palaces, castles, forts, and churches with engraved details and delicate artwork. Big rocks were sculptured with a cross in the center and other idealistic symbols that were one of a kind. The enemy was perplexed and found it impossible to move around these gigantic rocks which prevented them from being stolen. They could only marvel with amazement at the beauty of this artwork but couldn't find a way to actually possess them. From those times, the Armenian people were able to preserve this ancient creation and pass it on to the next generations in a form of a Khachkar, meaning Cross Stone.

Sculptor's Inspiration:

It is not surprising that Hratch Karapetian was inspired to follow his crafty predecessors but what's surprising is the fact that Hratch himself did not envision that he was actually in a process of creating a Khachkar Masterpiece.

In the beginning, Hratch was inspired by the death of his father to create a memorial monument. The more he thought about it, the more intriguing and complex it became in his imagination. When thinking of the legacy his father left behind, Hratch would often get lost in his thoughts and had the urge to create something so perfect and sacred that would literally transfer his soul onto a non breading object. It took nearly 3 years to complete the final drawing after starting the first sketch in 1980. Hratch started sculpting in 1983 and pour his heart and soul into his work that took 18 years to complete. He greatly deviated from the original drawing finding himself getting more and more involved in the depth of his own creation. At times he felt as if the stone is talking to him and lost in his work, he forgot about the concept of time.

What Makes this Khachkar Unique?

The Khachkar itself has several dimensions and while examining its various depths it becomes apparent that this kind of work cannot be reproduced again, not even by Hratch himself. In this world of high-end technology and state-of-the-art fabrication machinery, it is impossible to produce a computerized drawing and fabricate a stone with this design. It is equally impossible to copy this work due to its "angled" sculpting technique. The visual effect of the cross baffles the viewer with its power of precision, elegance, and taste. One look at this Khachkar etches an image in your mind forever. You find yourself asking questions, such as: How is this possible? Has this been actually created by man? Is he alive? What is the future of this unbelievable creation? And we have answers to all these questions. The incredible sculptor, Hratch Karapetian, still resides in his country. He established a school of Khachkars in the city of Sevan to continue his legacy and pass on the technique of such delicate craftsmanship to the next generations. Many of his students already found recognition in different parts of the world for their accomplishments.

The Destiny of this Khachkar:

Given the political inconsistencies and insecurities, the Khachkar had to be moved out of Armenia to find its final destination here, in the United States. After being displayed in different Galleries in Los Angeles, the Khachkar is currently in the "tight-net" market available for sale to an exclusive candidate who has high regard for art and deep appreciation for unique craftsmanship with a promise of infinite glory.

Closing Statement:

Today, we feel overwhelmed and excited as standing in front of this unbelievable beauty where the creation of Mother Nature meets the power of human hand and unlimited imagination. We celebrate this incredibly talented sculptor who selflessly gave his best producing an artwork that will remain in his culture and continue to amaze and inspire people for many generations to come.