In the previous phase of my artwork, I portrayed the dark side of life, which was the Armenian Genocide, my family history. Now I am portraying the lighter side of life, which is light itself, representing hope.
Apo Torosyan, 2019
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I was born and raised the son of an Armenian father and a Greek mother in Istanbul, Turkey, the old Byzantine city of Constantinople. At an early age, I started working on canvas and discovered texture. The surface of a stained and weathered wall; the bark of a tree; an old manuscript; a mosaic; a fresco; a Hellenistic or Etruscan temple or an icon—all fascinated me. My artwork has my personal history, which is similar to many others under similar circumstances.
The bread, which is the staff of life, was taken away from my ancestors. It represents victims of oppression. They died in starvation, including my grandparents. I immortalize bread within my concepts. It is an organic metaphor. It is the cycle of life. The form is expressive. If you look closely, you can never find one single slice of bread similar to another. This accelerates one’s imagination.
I use my ethnic background as a source of my creativity. The Byzantine, the Armenian culture, the formation of a manuscript, the historic texture of the walls of the city where I was born. In the Orthodox and Gregorian Church, the Holy Book is immortalized with gold or silver. I do the same thing with my “Bread Series” of paintings.
What I try to do with the “Bread Series” is to picture the life cycle itself within my interpretation. The found object I use is bread, which is symbolic, textural, and ordinary. The earth is part of the organic cycle, which represents peace and life.
If my work remains in someone’s mind and touches someone’s heart and soul, my statement is complete. I am grateful for the opportunity to share my work with you.
Apo Torosyan, 2015
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Bread Series
The bread, which is the staff of life, was taken away from my ancestors. It represents victims of oppression. They died in starvation, including my grandparents. I immortalize bread within my concepts. It is an organic metaphor. It is the cycle of life. The form is expressive. If you look closely, you can never find one single slice of bread similar to another. This accelerates one’s imagination.
Apo Torosyan, 2015