Pots 1989

Editor: This is "Pots," a watercolor from 1989 by Petros Malayan. I am immediately drawn to the collection of vessels. The textures look interesting but they give the work a rather somber tone overall. What do you see in this piece? Curator: It’s more than just a collection of pots. Notice the presence of the book. What could the juxtaposition of vessels and open book suggest about Armenian identity in 1989? We need to think about the cultural moment. Remember, this was just before the collapse of the Soviet Union. Editor: I guess the book, against the pots, does prompt that question. Could the book imply learning or knowledge in contrast to simple manual tasks embodied by the pots? Curator: Perhaps, but let’s push further. What did it mean to represent cultural artifacts – humble domestic objects – against a backdrop of imposed ideologies? I'm thinking about forced Russification and the suppression of indigenous culture and languages under Soviet rule. Are these pots vessels of daily life or vessels of resistance? Editor: That's fascinating! I hadn't thought about it in those terms. Seeing these traditional objects as representing a cultural continuity in the face of political control does really deepen the meaning of what is, at first glance, a simple composition. The book seems a testament to retaining history and language through generations. Curator: Precisely! Now, think about the use of watercolor—a medium often seen as ‘minor.’ Could Malayan be reclaiming the everyday, making the invisible visible? The somberness you identified might signify a quiet but potent assertion of cultural endurance. Editor: This reframing gives the watercolor and the still life so much more resonance. I realize that looking beyond just the objects portrayed to examine their cultural context brings this piece into focus. Thanks for sharing this approach. Curator: The beauty lies in exploring the layers. I think uncovering these intersectional meanings allows the work to engage us in a profound way.