May 16 – June 2, 2021
Vazken Kalayjian: HEART FLOW: Spiritual Abstractions
Solo Exhibition by Vazken Kalayjian Curated by Anna Gargarian LATITUDE Art Space, Vahakni “Art is my prayer, movement my mantra.” — Vazken Kalayjian In spring 2021, LATITUDE Art Space reopened its doors with a powerful return to spirit, color, and consciousness through Heart Flow: Spiritual Abstractions, a solo exhibition by Syrian-Armenian artist Vazken Kalayjian. Curated by Anna Gargarian, this contemplative showcase brought together over 30 years of Kalayjian’s artistic evolution — a vibrant fusion of Eastern philosophy, Christian mysticism, and abstract expressionism. The exhibition journeyed through Kalayjian’s signature works, from the meditative Vibration Series — where abstracted crosses emerged from color fields — to his Zen Brush calligraphy-inspired compositions. Each piece was the residue of flow state: that elusive place where mind, body, and soul dissolve into creative stillness.
Opening day welcomed visitors with guided tours in English and Armenian, followed by a live painting performance by Kalayjian, accompanied by a meditative, analogue soundscape by French musician Alexis Paul. The atmosphere was reflective, charged with presence, and concluded in a shared reception of wine and silence.
A week later, Kalayjian also led a Zen Brush Calligraphy Workshop, offering guests a tactile experience of his spiritual approach — ink, breath, and gesture in unison. Proceeds supported the Yerevan Biennial Art Foundation’s educational programming.
This was Kalayjian’s first major exhibition in Armenia since 2005 and marked his return not only as an artist but as a permanent resident of Yerevan. His message was simple but urgent: in a world fractured by war and crisis, we must return to ourselves — to awareness, presence, and creation.
About the Artist
Born in Aleppo in 1956, Vazken Kalayjian trained at the Saryan Academy and the Pratt Institute in New York, becoming an active figure in the city’s art scene throughout the ’80s and ’90s. His work has been exhibited internationally and is held in private collections across the U.S., Europe, and the Middle East. Today, Kalayjian continues to explore the intersection of art, consciousness, and philosophy from his studio in Yerevan.
