1. Yervand "Kochar" Kocharyan, known as Ervand Kochar was a prominent sculptor and modern artist of the twentieth century and a founder of Painting in Space art movement.
12 Facts About Yervand Kochar
1. 2.
The Ervand Kochar Museum is located in Yerevan, Armenia and showcases much of his work.
3.
Yervand Kochar graduated in 1918 from Nersisian School, and, between 1915 and 1918, studied at the Arts School of the Caucasus Association for Promotion of Fine Arts in Tbilisi.
4.
Yervand Kochar returned to Tbilisi, where he was granted a certificate of professor of Fine Arts and Technical Studies by the People's Commissariat of the Georgian SSR.
5.
Yervand Kochar's works were first exhibited in Tbilisi in 1921 and the following year in Allied-controlled Constantinople and in Venice.
6.
Yervand Kochar's Painting in Space one-man show opened in "Van Leer" Gallery.
7.
Yervand Kochar met Leonce Rosenberg, the well-known patron and connoisseur of modern art, who became a fan of Yervand Kochar's art.
8.
In 1936, while at the peak of his artistic fame, to the surprise of many, Yervand Kochar repatriated to the Armenian SSR, without the least bit of doubt that he was leaving Paris for good.
9.
Between 1941 and 1943 Yervand Kochar was imprisoned on politically motivated charges, but was eventually freed due to the intervention of his friends from Nersissian School, Karo Halabian and Anastas Mikoyan.
10.
Yervand Kochar continued working in Yerevan, earning award recognition as People's Artist of Armenian SSR in 1965, State Prize of the Armenian SSR in 1967, Order of the Red Banner of Labour in 1971 and People's Artist of the Soviet Union in 1976.
11.
Yervand Kochar's most recognized works include the statues of David of Sassoun which has become the symbol of Yerevan, the capital of Armenia; of Vardan Mamikonian ; of Komitas in Echmiadzin.
12.
Yervand Kochar was married to philologist Manik Mkrtchyan, with whom he had two sons, Haykaz Kochar and Ruben Kochar.