Still Life with Armenian Carpet 1989

Petros Malayan made this watercolor painting, Still Life with Armenian Carpet, in 1989. Malayan was an Armenian artist living in Soviet Armenia, and this painting, with its careful depiction of traditional crafts, speaks to the fraught relationship between local culture and imperial power. Armenian carpets are renowned for their intricate designs and vibrant colors, embodying centuries of cultural heritage. By including this carpet, Malayan subtly asserts Armenian identity within the Soviet context, a culture that valued conformity. The broken pottery adds another layer of meaning. Are these objects precious remnants of a lost past? Or do they represent the damage done to Armenian culture by Soviet domination? Understanding this painting requires us to look into the history of Soviet Armenia. We could look into official Soviet art policies. We could also study Armenian folk art traditions. This type of research reveals how artists navigated the complex politics of cultural expression under Soviet rule.