Vahan Yervandyan

A Confrontation in Black and White, Abstract Oil Painting by Vahan Yervandyan

2012

In this abstract expressionist painting by Shant, the tension between black and white creates an immediate, palpable sense of unease, which could recall the chaos and turmoil often associated with Lebanon's complex history. Indeed, Shank was born in Lebanon in Beirut in '71. From 1975 to 1992, Lebanon was the scene of a multifaceted war. Very deadly for the civilian population, it involved various protagonists, and a civil war broke out in 1975-1976, then again in 1983-1985. Whether consciously or unconsciously distancing from these events, having been exposed to them directly or through the tragic experiences of families who remained in the country, the bold brushstrokes and swirling circular shapes evoke a sense of urgency, reflecting the inner turmoil and external conflicts that may have shaped the artist's experience. Abstract expressionism is a free universe where everyone can interpret a painting according to its history, its current events, whatever the resonance may be between the personal history of the spectator and that of the artist. The chaotic composition of this piece invites us to explore our inner worlds as we navigate through the painting's complex layers of meaning. Shant fills space with dynamic energy, creating an organization of forms, a dialogue that challenges traditional notions of order and structure. It is impossible to separate Shant's artistic expression from the socio-political context of Lebanon. The artist's education undoubtedly influences his point of view, infusing the work with a questioning that resonates on a profoundly universal level. Ultimately, Shant's abstract expressionism in this painting transcends mere representation, inviting viewers to confront the complexities of the human condition and the lasting impact of conflict on the individual and collective psyche. He was born in 1971 in Beirut, Lebanon, where Shant Beudjekian’s art practice was discovered at 14, after gaining recognition from the Swiss national youth soccer team and winning many trophies and medals then. In 1995, after moving to California, San Diego, he completed a 4 year Bachelor's degree in Fine Arts with a minor in Ceramics at Otis College of Art and Design in Los Angeles. He also attended a one-year internship in landscape architecture at the Rhode Island School of Design. He returned to Southern California in 2004, where he practiced as a full-time Artist in the Local Art Communities of Southern California. He has been painting for 25 years while receiving appreciative acceptances from curators and Gallery Directors from the East Coast. He exhibited in several cities on the East Coast of the United States, along with exhibitions in the Chelsea District of Manhattan, New York. Now living on the West Coast, Beudjekian has been notable for exhibiting Art and selling on numerous occasions at the San Diego Art Institute of the Living Artists, Del Mar Art Center, San Diego Hospice and Palliative Care, and Forest and Ocean Gallery...

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This striking black and white abstract oil painting was created circa 1975 by celebrated American modernist Edward (Eduardo) Arcenio Chavez (1917–1995). Boldly rendered in shades of black, gray, and white, the composition exemplifies Chavez’s refined minimalist aesthetic, rooted in mid-century modern art. The painting’s image size is 24 x 48 inches, with custom framing bringing the overall dimensions to 25 ½ x 49 ½ inches. A Powerful Example of American Minimalist Art Executed in a confident, monochromatic palette, this work captures the balance, restraint, and visual rhythm that define Chavez’s approach to abstraction. Its elongated horizontal format and subtle tonal variation create a meditative yet dynamic presence—perfect for collectors of minimalist, modernist, or mid-century art. About the Artist: Edward (Eduardo) Chavez Born in Wagonmound, New Mexico, Chavez was a multifaceted American artist known for his work as a painter, sculptor, lithographer, illustrator, and muralist. He studied at the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center under notable figures such as Boardman Robinson, Frank Mechau, Arnold Blanch, and Peppino Mangravite. After serving in WWII, Chavez became part of the influential Woodstock, New York art colony—joining contemporaries like Bruce Currie and Mitchell Siporin...

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