Written by Arpine Haroyan
When I was introduced to British-Armenian writer, translator, painter, and dentist Mischa Kudian's archive kept at the Armenian Institute, the first thing that caught my eye was his extensive collection of 35mm slides depicting 1970s Soviet Armenia. Kept in a special slide box, Kudian's carefully numbered slides took me on a fascinating journey to the land some once dreamed of seeing, yet others desired to escape. At first, I was blown away. Growing up in Armenia in the early 2000s, I always imagined Soviet Armenia in black and white. Exploring this land through Kudian's eyes was not just an archival inquiry for me; it was a delightful discovery, revealing many layers of a state that no longer exists.
Soviet Armenia, with all its glory and pain, indeed was colorful. It was bright with its hardworking people that rose like a phoenix after our nation's many hardships; it was colorful with its landscapes and cities, architecture, art and culture, education and science. It was a land mostly unknown and unheard of outside the Iron Curtain. Yet, it was a land that was once seen by the British Armenian community through the eyes of Mischa Kudian.
Kudian visited Soviet Armenia more than once. He was probably fascinated by Yerevan since more than half of the images captured life in the capital's streets. One of the exciting series of photographs is Kudian's images of the Republic Square (formerly Lenin Square) during his different visits; one can see a typical Soviet parade (most probably May 1st) with people marching and red color popping everywhere. In another series of photographs from 1969, Kudian shows the National Gallery of Armenia adorned with posters dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the great Armenian poet Hovhannes Tumanyan.
1.The Republic Square during a parade (probably May 1st, early 1970s)
1.The Republic Square during a parade (probably May 1st, early 1970s)
2.The National Gallery of Armenia is adorned with posters dedicated to the 100th anniversary of Hovhannes Tumanian
Another series dedicated to Republic Square showcases the National Gallery of Armenia and the construction of its additional floors in the early 1970s.
Kudian loved photographing Soviet Armenian people. In a series of photographs dedicated to Yerevan, Kudian documented the mundane moments in the lives of ordinary people trying to convey the city's atmosphere. We see pictures of people selling flowers, playing chess or simply getting into the tram.
Kudian's slides also showcase Swan Lake and Alexander Spendiaryan Opera and Ballet Theater surrounded by beautiful trees and rich vegetation. He also depicted Yerevan's once stunning and untouched architecture.
1.People selling flowers near Swan Lake
2.People getting on the tram
1.Watering the streets of Yerevan
2. People playing chess near Swan Lake in Yerevan
Young student reading a book (probably inside Yerevan State University)
1.Children playing near Swan Lake in Yerevan
2.Alexander Spendiaryan Opera and Ballet Theater
Kudian's journey to Soviet Armenia was not limited to Yerevan. Even though there is no detailed information about his trips, the slides reveal that he intensively traveled outside the capital and documented life throughout the country. Not surprisingly, another set of Kudian's slides takes us to Lake Sevan and the famous Writer's Resort. One can see the beautiful building of the resort - a vivid example of Soviet Modernism - and typical Soviet Volga cars around it.
1.Sevan Writer’s Resort located on Sevan Peninsula (architects Mikayel Mazmanyan and Gevorg Kochar)
2.Lake Sevan and Soviet Volga cars
Lake Sevan through Kudian’s eyes
In another photo from the Sevan trip, we see a mixture of excitement, happiness and confusion on the faces of Soviet Armenian children.
Children from villages nearby Lake Sevan
One can tell Kudian loved photographing children. When digging into his slide archive, I found yet another set of photographs of children from Byurakan village. Dressed in Soviet school uniforms, Kudian photographed them on their way to school, capturing the excitement of the young children.
1.Children of Byurakan
2.Young pioneers near the statue of composer Alexander Spendiaryan
Kudian’s photographs are atmospheric. His colorful pictures, sometimes with well-thought compositions, serve as a reminder of a period that is long gone. And these are only snapshots from his huge collection.
1.Armenian Genocide Memorial Complex (architects Arthur Tarkhanyan, Sashur Kalashyan and artist Hovhannes Khachatryan)
2.Little girl laying a flower near the eternal flame inside the memorial
The slide collection, indeed, is quite impressive. Besides the photographs Kudian had taken during the journeys, he also collected slides of paintings of Armenian and Russian artists. During his life, Mischa Kudian gave numerous lectures on Armenian arts and culture not only for the Armenian community but also for British audiences. As someone granted access to Soviet Armenia, Kudian somehow served as a bridge between the Diaspora and Armenia and tried to bring the Armenian people together through his photographs and stories.
Today, the Armenian Institute hosts and preserves Mischa Kudian’s sizable archive, including his fantastic collection of 35mm slides, aiming to digitize it soon and present it to the larger public.
1.One of the most famous bookstores in Yerevan back in the 1970s on Baghramyan street
2.A typical Armenian dinner table
