Interview
Anahit Diez-Gyurjyan
Anahit is an Armenian-born artist based in Zurich, Switzerland. Her vibrant palette and abstract style reflect the fusion of cultures and landscapes that have shaped her identity. Each brush stroke is a journey through memories to evoke emotion and spark imagination. Anahit sees it as her mission to bring more colours into our world - to make it more colourful, vibrant and interesting.
What is your background and how did you start your journey in the art world?
“I am an Armenian-born self-taught artist based in Switzerland. My journey into the world of art started in my childhood – I draw and paint as long as I can remember myself. Art was always a place to escape to, to reflect, my passion and my big love. Back then, a profession in the art world was unimaginable for me, thus I did my bachelor’s and master’s degree in economics and finances. I succeeding in building an elaborate career in one of the globally leading consulting firms, but since a few months, I have decided to dedicate my whole time to art and I feel as fulfilled as I could be. I have moved to Switzerland in my early 20’s, and since then I call it home – it’s where I have founded my own family, have built a large network of friends. And still, my background is deeply rooted in the Armenian culture, the bold colors and abstract forms through which I communicate my emotions and perspectives. After all, my vibrant palette and abstract style reflect the fusion of cultures which have shaped my identity.”
What inspires you?
“I am inspired by so many things. The way the sun is shining on a particular day, how my coffee tastes that morning, how my kids tell me they love what I paint, the colours around me, the museum I visited a week prior, the fun chat I had with my friends, even a run in the evening through the green fields of Uitikon, where I live. All of this inspires me. There are so many things that fuel my creativity, I sometimes wonder how the “algorithm” works in my body. At the same time, paradoxically, there are periods in my life, where I do feel inspired, but do not find the emotional and mental space to actually paint and put all that on paper. But I have not experienced it lately, and that makes me very happy. I experience pure joy when I have a white canvas in front of me, a brush in my hand, and so many visions in my head.”
What themes do you pursue? Is there an underlying message in your work?
“My work is all about emotion – the good, the bad and the wonderful! Also, it’s about exploration of identity, cultural fusion, and human experience. It is all interconnected and diverse at the same time and I use abstract forms to show that. I like to play with opposites, just as it is in life – unity and individuality, privacy and exposure - and all that is expressed through colours. I see my mission in bringing more colour to the our world, and with that make it kinder and lighter.”
How would you describe your work?
“This question makes me think hard, as putting so many feelings, emotions and experiences into words is not an easy task – it’s would be easier for me to paint it. But I will give it my best. I think of my work as a kaleidoscope of colors and shapes, each canvas a reflection of my inner world and the external influences around me. I would say it's a fusion of Armenian heritage and Swiss life, expressed through vibrant and dynamic forms - all lit by internal fire. More often my work is strong, wild, - loud! Some other times – it is serene and soothing. It's as though you need to squint your eyes and sharpen your ears to make out the finer elements. As Norma Jean Harris said: ‘Art does not reproduce the visible, rather it makes it visible.’”
Which artists influence you most?
“Here we can get stuck for a long time! There is a long list of names, and honestly the list gets longer and longer each day. Some big ones are Martiros Saryan and Sergey Parajanov. And every day I encounter artists – in person or just seeing their work on the web, that’s when I fall in love in with the new work of other artists or their colours, or technique, or something else and that will influence me in a particular moment, will give me a push to create new work. In a book I adore, and which has helped me enormously to get where I am now, The Artist’s Way, by Julia Cameron, there is the concept of "creative lineage." Cameron encourages artists to recognize the artists who have come before them and whose work has influenced their own. By doing so, artists can gain a deeper understanding of their artistic heritage and find inspiration in the diverse traditions of creativity.”
“My work is all about emotion – the good, the bad and the wonderful!”
What is your creative process like?
“Quite frankly it is more like a whirlwind than a process – once I am in it, I am on fire. I start 5-6 paintings at the same time, switching among them as the paint dries or the palette needs to be refined. Hours can go by and I will not notice the time, the place, the lack of food in my system. In these moments I become the painting itself, the medium, the experiment, the colour, the canvas. One painting can contain layers and layers, until the piece feels complete. However, as it has been beautifully said by Paul Valéry, a French poet and philosopher "A poem is never finished, only abandoned." In my view – this also applies for paintings. I abandon my piece at one point or another, never really knowing if that’s where they want to be abandoned.”
What is an artist’s role in society and how do you see that evolving?
“And here again, I will be quoting people by far more experienced and smarter than myself: “The function of the creative artist consists of making laws, not in the following laws already made,” - Ferruccio Busoni. I see an artist’s role in bringing joy, happiness, laughter, beauty, inspiration to the society. As our society evolves, the role of artists does as well – but the underlying essence stays. For me, making people’s lives more colourful, is the role I want to play in the society as an artist. More than being a mirror or a provocateur to a society, I want to be a healer as an artist.”
Have you had any noteworthy exhibitions you'd like to share?
“One of the latest exhibitions I had the honour to participate in was The Contemporary Art Fair in Barcelona, Spain in April 2024. It brought together artists from various backgrounds, showcasing the richness of cultural diversity. It was a powerful platform to share my perspective and connect with audiences from so many different backgrounds. Another wonderful exhibition I would mention here is the Solothurn Art Fair in Switzerland. Around 75 artists from all over Switzerland were represented at the Art Fair, which was such an intense experience and absolute delight to be a part of.”
Website: www.anahitpaintings.com
Instagram: @anahit_paintings_com
