A Master of Woodcraft
In every person’s life, there are encounters and acquaintances that remain in the memory for a long time — and often forever — settling deep in the heart.
One such meeting happened to me.“Grandpa Razmik, why did you choose this craft?”
“Grandpa Razmik” — that’s how he asks my daughters to call him. From the very first moments of their meeting, they were touched by his gentle attention.
Razmik was born on June 13, 1938, in Agha-Jur, Ijevan region. At the age of five, he lost his father, who was killed in a bombing attack on his unit in the Kerch Strait in 1943. Razmik and his sister were raised by their mother, who worked first in a school and later in orphanages throughout the Republic of Armenia.
Razmik Ardevanovich graduated from school with honors. He played football with great success, became a participant in the Spartakiad of the Peoples of the USSR, and later the captain of Yerevan’s Spartak team. In 1958, he graduated from Technical School No. 1 and obtained the profession of design draftsman. He continued his football career and was awarded the title of USSR Master of Sports in 1966. He also became a coach.
He earned degrees from an agricultural institute and a construction technical college — both with honors.
The crowning achievement of his vibrant life became his strong union with his beloved wife Nelly. Together, they had two daughters and a son.
Razmik Ardevanovich always had a passion for art and creativity. Throughout his life, he created remarkable wooden artworks, and to date has held five exhibitions of his works. From tiny fragments of wood, he composes extraordinary pieces of art. He primarily uses wood from fruit trees, believing that only these trees possess a truly unique palette of colors.
In 2017, his muse and beloved wife, Nelly Mamikonovna, passed away. Overwhelmed by this irreparable loss, Razmik found solace in hard work and his enduring love for his craft.
Today, Grandpa Razmik continues to create what he calls his “wooden wonders.” He uses nine types of wood in his work. Each tree provides a natural shade, and the only black color he uses is achieved through a year-long natural aging process.
He lives in Dilijan, working up to 20 hours a day.
His creations are filled with extraordinary love and reverence. Each piece radiates the warmth of the Dilijan sun and the boundless vitality of the master himself.
All of his works are available for purchase.
Contact phone: + (374) 93 85 87 13; + (374) 93 58 14 24
