Name - Gagik Stepan-Sarkissian
Place of birth - Tabriz, Iran
Your family roots - Van & Arjesh (Turkey); Armenian village of Moozhoombar (Iran)
Your occupation / work / profession - Retired biochemist
How and why did you get involved with AI? - A chance meeting with Susan Pattie at a dinner party hosted by Ani King-Underwood (I even remember what Ani had cooked that evening). Both invited me to join the early brainstorming sessions with their friends – I felt intimidated by those huge intellects forging the Institute. Eventually I become one of the first 5 founding trustees.
Tell us a special memory about AI - Sorting through the library books under the railway arches in south London in freezing weather.
What are 2 or 3 of the most memorable AI events you have attended? - Series of inaugural events in 2001 which set the tone for what AI was to become eventually; the unforgettable experience of “Whispered Voices” created by Seta White; Centenary concert at Wigmore Hall.
What are your hopes and ambitions for AI; where do you see its future? - For AI to become an institution like Institut français or the Goethe Institut and serve as a template for similar organisations in the Armenian world – including Armenia.
Which languages do you speak? - In order of acquisition: Armenian, Persian, French, English. I have a good understanding of spoken Azeri Turkish.
Favourite book - National Bigwigs (Ազգային ջոջեր) by Hagop Baronian.
Favourite film - “Babette’s Feast” directed by Gabriel Axel.
Favourite music / musician / band - Classical mostly / Levon Chilingirian / Medz Bazar
Favourite artwork - “Street. Noon. Constantinople” by Martiros Saryan
Best advice you’ve been given - Many. Almost all unsolicited. Cannot remember any of them.
Your motto - It could be worse.
Coffee or tea and what kind - Both (no milk; no sugar; no tea bags; no instant coffee)
Favourite place in London - Borough Market. Oxford Street is the UNfavourite place in London.
For many people Gagik and the Armenian Institute are synonymous. And how lucky we are that it is nearly true. He claims to be a 'retired biochemist" but we all know that is not possible, given the amount of space in his head taken up with extensive knowledge about almost every Armenian subject under the sun. Gagik is not only our librarian and research advisor but a beloved teacher of East Armenian and coordinator of our language programme. Each year his graduates emerge with excellent speaking, reading and writing skills. His artistic talents are put to work on almost all AI flyers and announcements and the only thing he flatly refuses to do is sing. We're still working on that.