In the year of Matevossian’s ninetieth anniversary, Brusov State University convened a conference devoted to the man whose words became the voice of his native land and whose writing was the living fabric of existence.
In his welcome address, Davit Matevossian recalled Andrei Bitov’s observation: Hrant did not write “about” the horse, the buffalo, the dog, the wolf or the bear—his task was to render the creatures themselves, like a painter. “Through Hrant, our SELF becomes itself, and the WALL becomes STRONG,” he said.
Matevossian’s universe brought together Yerevan, Gyumri, Vanadzor and Ijevan, connecting different cities and generations. Closing the conference, Rector Davit Gyurjinyan said: “Next year will be Matevossian’s ninety-first anniversary. Nothing changes: his work will continue. The atmosphere of our university is filled with him.”
A university of foreign languages speaks to the world first of all in the language of its own great writer. Fortunate is the student who will discover this universe with inspiration. We bow to everyone who keeps Hrant’s living word alive. Photographs from the University’s Facebook page.
