Janet Shah - KHACH-KAR - amian

I am an Armenian, born in Tehran, Iran in 1952. From early childhood, I have had a deep love for color and painting. The works you see on this website are a collection of my paintings created since 1989. All of my artwork carries an Armenian theme, inspired by my imagination of Armenian children’s stories, verses of poems, and most especially, the Armenian Alphabet.

Years ago, I wrote a poem encouraging Armenians in the diaspora to preserve their language. Around that same time, I began painting the Armenian Alphabet and gifting these paintings as wedding presents. Over the years, this calling became clearer, and I focused my heart and mind on painting the Armenian Alphabet and creating original family emblems using Armenian letters as my niche.

My hope is to place an original Armenian Alphabet painting or emblem in as many Armenian homes throughout the diaspora as possible - to encourage families and young children to hold tightly to our unique and sacred language. I believe it is a special blessing for a new couple, a grandchild, or anyone celebrating a meaningful birthday or baptism to receive a one-of-a-kind Armenian Alphabet painting or emblem representing their name or family name.

These paintings are created to remain in your family as heirlooms, passed down through generations. I put my love and blessing into each piece, striving to make every painting as colorful, unique, and full of life as possible - for you to enjoy, love, and cherish throughout your life. In every painting, there is a guardian angel or a symbol of blessing.

My wish is not only for you to own one of my paintings, but for this to be my way of encouraging you to hold on to your Armenian language and remain a rightful heir to your heritage.

I invite you to read my poem, dedicated to Armenians in the diaspora. I hope you are able to read Armenian, but if not, I encourage you to make the effort to learn - just as you would with any other foreign language. The poem is also translated into English, so for now, my message can still reach you.

My paintings, my poem, the editor’s view, and my art itself will tell you more about me than anything else. 

I wish you all the best.

Amenayn Barik.