“Grandpa Razmik” — this is how he asked my girls to call him. From the very first moments, they were touched by his warmth and attention.

Razmik Ardevanovich Saakyan was born on June 13, 1938, in the village of Agha-Jur in the Ijevan region. At the age of five, he lost his father, who was killed in 1943 in the Kerch Strait when his unit came under bombing. Razmik and his sister were raised by their mother, who worked first at a school and later in orphanages across the Republic of Armenia.

He graduated from school with honors, actively played football, became a participant in the Spartakiad of the Peoples of the USSR, and served as captain of Yerevan’s Spartak team.

In 1958, he graduated from Technical College No. 1, earning a qualification as a design draftsman. He continued his football career and, in 1966, was awarded the title of Master of Sports of the USSR, later working as a coach.

He also graduated with honors from the Agricultural Institute and a construction technical school.

A defining chapter of his life was his strong and loving union with the wonderful Nelly Mamikonovna. Together they had two daughters and a son.

Throughout his life, Razmik Ardevanovich was deeply drawn to art. His creative journey included six exhibitions of his work. From thousands of small pieces of wood, he created extraordinary artworks. He mainly used fruit tree species, as he believed they possess a uniquely rich and varied natural color palette.

In 2017, he lost his muse and beloved wife, Nelly Mamikonovna. His dedication to work and his passion for art helped him endure this profound loss.

Until his final days, “Grandpa Razmik” continued to create what he called his “wooden miracles.” In his work, he used nine types of wood. Each color was natural, and only the black tone was achieved by aging the wood for a full year.

He lived in the town of Dilijan and often worked up to 20 hours a day.

His works are filled with deep love and tenderness. Each piece carries the warmth of the Dilijan sun and the master’s remarkable love for life.

In April 2025, in Dilijan, with the support of the art gallery and its director Arman Badeyan, his exhibition “Voice of Memory” was held, dedicated to the victims of the Genocide. More than 30 works were presented, some composed of over 3,000 tiny wooden mosaic pieces.

Razmik Ardevanovich passed away on March 28, 2026. He was 88 years old.