Vardananq 2000

Grigor Khanjyan made this painting, Vardananq, using what looks like oil paint. The approach is busy, really packed with detail, and I imagine it was a long, involved process to make something so intricate. Looking closer, you can see how the colours are layered and blended, creating a kind of smoky atmosphere. The paint application seems thin in some areas, almost transparent, while other spots have thicker, more opaque strokes. I can see lots of thin lines, especially in the faces and the weapons. All these small strokes, create a real sense of movement and chaos. There's a figure near the bottom with an archer, and a priest, this grouping is like a little microcosm of the whole composition. Khanjyan's epic style reminds me of Renaissance history painting. But unlike those old masters, there’s a rawness and intensity here that feels very contemporary. It’s like a conversation across time, and an interpretation of conflict and drama.