ROBERT SAHAKYANTS: I DO WHAT I LOVE, IT HAS NEVER BEEN OTHERWISE
PanARMENIAN.Net
24.09.2009 GMT+04:00
He was one of those without whom, in his opinion, everything would
sink in sweet syrup.
A couple of years ago I had a chance of an interview with Robert
Sahakyants and one could not assume at that time that he would leave
the world so soon. We all knew he was ill, but no one suspected
how serious the illness was. He was one of those without whom, in
his opinion, everything would sink in sweet syrup. All that you’ll
read further are his direct words, as we thought no one could speak
of Robert Sahakyants and the world surrounding him better than he
himself. For some reason he always spoke Russian, although he knew
his native language perfectly well. Call it freak of a genius if you
like, but now that he is gone words, however beautiful they might be,
are needless.
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ – I do what I love, it has never been otherwise. I
love making animated films but I can’t stand movies. Movies in general,
and Armenian films in particular are either boring, melancholic rural
genre, or the same boring, melancholic and in addition fake urban genre
with impractical literary language, and unreasonable behavior of the
actors. I’ve never loved the cinema and I always ask those who argue
with me: "Do you have at least one cassette with an Armenian film
in your house?" and the dispute ends at that. The Armenian cinema
has never been a phenomenon. There have been some good films, but,
largely, even they were compromising, and the causes of compromise were
the era, censorship and mentality. But if you cast a neutral glance,
there is hardly any motion picture that can be called an Armenian film.
– I cannot recall fragments of the Armenian culture even in Soviet
times. The only difference is that the same words were pronounced
louder then. We have always had a superficial culture: everyone is
awarded, everyone has titles, and it makes them self-conceited and
arrogant, but in depth they are all null. The same stoc d neither by
knowledge nor by law. The overall level of development and education
is low; nothing has been changed regarding culture – just as bad and
provincial as it used to be. Provinciality is a sin; it’s the sin of
provincialism. We have remained the same backyard of the empire. It’s
a shame that cultural figures and intellectuals are ignorant. And the
crowd does not think about its antiquity and exclusivity. It doesn’t
give a damn. Crowd is always a crowd.
– Let us recall what we have. Do not take music. Komitas Quartet
has always existed and it will live on – there have always been
remarkable musicians in Armenia. I’m talking of the ability to talk,
think, discuss and explain one’s standpoint. Any "cultural figure"
can be caught unawares. For example, nobody has ever thought if
Dostoevsky is indeed good. It is not necessary to subvert, but one
can doubt at least. Eyes will pop out on their heads if you ask "Is
"Gioconda" real or not, should it be hung or not, is there a mystery
smile or not?" They can not express an opinion on it or even think
over it. We perceive culture by blocks and with slothfulness.
– It is absolute laziness to think that it is not for us to
consider. We have more urgent, tangible goals – to go out, toss
someone and be happy on that. I’m not going to recall facts, not
because I do not know them but because everything is so purely formally
done that to accuse anyone would be pointless. Cultural figures are
amazingly caught at medals. Three days ago severely criticizing the
authorities on TV, from the hands of the same authorities they take
alms. Repair the theater and actors will support the government, do
not repair and they’ll be for the opposition. It is not my discovery;
this is a statement of fact.
– Tell me how to explain to schoolchildren that it’s a sin to tease
an animal if on Sundays we make animal sacrifices before the child’s
eyes. They say it’s an ancient custom of ours. Then, let us go back
to our original state and remove this ext aneous feature. Especially
that it is very delicate – just enough to blow away.
– I have a very reserved attitude towards Yerevan. This is my
favorite city because it is related to my childhood and the people
I meet every day. It is the studio on Teryan Street, where I began
to work. It is specific buildings that I love, but it does not
mean that I like them. Never could I understand our stock phrase
"pink city". I generally prefer cream colour, and secondly it is
not pink, but dirty-violet with unpleasant tint that arouses no
enthusiasm at all. I simply love this city, but her being older than
Rome doesn’t mean she is better. That repulsive color of buildings
is rubbish. Complete absence of aesthetics and the desire to have
beautiful environment. I love this city but were I a tourist, I would
never come here. Stereotypes are also terrible because poets poetized
and profiteers that became businessmen perceived it bluntly. And so
for the right to swim in Lake Sevan they take crazy amounts of money,
because it is a treasure for us and better than the Mediterranean
Sea. Five-star hotels – who ever builds these hotels? Will businessmen
ever come to Yerevan as a tourist and pay these amounts for staying
a day in such hotels? You can never get an answer to these questions,
and I’ve already discussed the reasons.
– At the age of 23 I wrote the following for Ara Yernjakyan, who opened
the Chamber Theater and more and more up-to-date it is becoming for
me: "Here in the mountains there live wonderful people. They have
been living here for ages. This wise old shepherd was tending his
sheep when Alexander of Macedon passed through this land with his
troops. Alexander went further and soon died. Years later another
Alexander, this time Pushkin, came here and met the old shepherd. He
went further and was soon killed in a duel. And the wise old shepherd
continues tending his sheep in the mountains. Long life and new
Alexanders to you, old shepherd".
– You can love Yerevan, but you needn’t tell tales. Everything is
separate: it’s mountains, it’ sheep, it’s Rome.