These words are not only Paul Guiragossian’s artistic credo but also the key to understanding his entire oeuvre. He did not regard art as a means of self-expression or a demonstration of technical mastery. For him, art was an indispensable condition of human spiritual existence—our “oxygen,” without which we cannot think, feel, or truly comprehend the world.
In Guiragossian’s artistic universe, the human figure occupies the central place. Yet it is never merely a physical presence; it becomes a living bridge between nature and the cosmos. The artist believed that it is through the presence of humanity that the world acquires meaning, form, and identity. Consequently, the figures in his paintings transcend individuality, becoming timeless symbols of the human condition.
Lebanese art critic Joseph Tarrab described Guiragossian’s work as a state of perpetual duality, delicately balanced on the boundary between figuration and abstraction. This boundary does not divide but rather unites the tangible and the intangible. His forms remain recognizable while continually dissolving into a language of color, light, and rhythm, where the concrete becomes abstract and the abstract acquires a vivid, almost tangible reality.
In Guiragossian’s paintings, color is far more than a descriptive element—it is an autonomous means of expression, a psychological state, an inner music. His luminous, vibrant palette creates a timeless space in which past, present, and future converge, affirming his conviction that art, like the sun, illuminates every dimension of human existence.
Paul Guiragossian’s art transcends national identity and historical chronology. It speaks a universal language of dignity, memory, love, and eternity. Within his paintings, humanity becomes not merely a participant in nature but its creative continuation—a force that unites heaven and earth, serving simultaneously as their mirror and their creator.
Today, Paul Guiragossian’s art continues to inspire generations of viewers because it is founded upon an enduring truth: art is the highest expression of human existence, and humanity remains its eternal center and deepest meaning. The photograph features Paul Guiragossian’s Motherhood, exhibited as part of the Museum of Modern Art’s permanent collection.