Armenian artist sculpts figures of Jewish history

What these figures all have in common is their influence over the city of Jerusalem, and, for the moment, their many-layered faces and bodies, sculpted in multi-layered sheets of paper or thinly sliced layers of aluminum, sometimes sprayed to bright, uniform colors, at other times left to their natural, silver sheen. “I didn’t separate Jewish history and history, it’s one big thing,” said Sargsyan. “These guys made part of history.”

Sargsyan sculpted a total of nine figures, including Cyrus the Great, King of Persia, Herod the Great, Melisende the crusader queen of Jerusalem, Suleiman the Magnificent.  They’ll soon be moved to their temporary abode at the Tower of David Museum, as part of the “Rock Paper Scissors” exhibit opening July 8, featuring Sargsyan, a Dutch artist of Armenian background, known for his bold, intricate sculptures made of paper.

Some of the figurines are human-size sculptures, built around a wooden base, yet oddly lifelike, with facial expressions, limbs and bodies seemingly ready to move and act, thanks to the Sargsyan’s signature technique.

His trademark style was developed during art studies at the renowned Rijksakademie art school in Amsterdam, where Sargsyan moved with his family after experiencing economic and political pressures in his homeland of Armenia. He also credits his sculpture technique to his earlier experience as a boxer and his college studies, when he took anatomy courses that helped him understand the workings of the body.

But this internationally known paper artist remembers first turning to paper long before that period, as a kind of experiment as he figured out the planes and lines of the human body. That was more than 20 years ago. Since then, Sargsyan, now 45, has shown internationally, including London’s Tate Modern and in 2019 at France’s Pompidou Metz.

 “These new works by Sargsyan, which were created especially for this exhibition, bring a unique, modern interpretation to Jerusalem’s historical figures,” said Eilat Lieber, who directs and is chief curator of the Tower of David Museum.  “The figures add an artistic dimension which express, in a visual manner, the hopes, influences, plans and challenges which accompany the history of the city through thousands of years.”

Delving into Jewish biblical figures, or historical heroes known for their support of the Jewish or Israeli cause wasn’t all that straightforward for Sargsyan, whose Dutch colleagues and friends looked upon this upcoming show with some consternation for Israel’s politics.

“I’m not religious or political,” said Sargsyan. “I approached this as a novice.”

Jessica Steinberg