Born and raised in Armenia, Ughurlyan moved to the United States in 1990. Nine years later he put aside a successful career in computer engineering to fully dedicate himself to writing, composing and performing music, and painting. Those close to him recall his metamorphosis as rather the culmination of an inner quest that had begun years before, when Ughurlyan ventured into the artistic sphere as a founding member of the rock group Vostan Hayots. “Ughurlyan is a virtuoso of astounding range,” said arts critic Ishkhan Jinbashian, commenting on The Dark Side of the Moon. “Perhaps what is most salient in his dynamic canvases and writings is an exhilarating sense of freedom, a quality which is so sorely lacking in today’s snotty, self-conscious art world.” Ughurlyan passed away early this year at the age of 44, leaving behind a sizeable oeuvre comprising poetry, musical recordings, and paintings. Months before his death, he had published Lusni Hakarak Koghmu, a large-format book of his paintings and poetry. The English edition of the work, titled The Dark Side of the Moon and translated by Henrik Pipoyan from the Armenian, was printed in tandem. Ughurlyan had also left two album-length recordings of original music ready for release. Ughurlyan composed and recorded a rock-infused album of Armenian music, in which he is featured as a vocalist and guitar player. The songs on the CD touch on a diversity of themes, from romantic love to esoteric inquiry. He also wrote and recorded an album of instrumental music interspersed with readings from his poetry. Ughurlyan’s guitar work is also featured on this CD.
With the latter album Ughurlyan pushed his creative boundaries even further, experimenting with diverse musical genres and references. Both albums – titled Kanchum e Sirtu and I Have Decided to Return Home, respectively – communicate a level of exuberance and sheer fun that help humanize the complex notions tackled by the artist. During a 2006 television interview, when Ughurlyan was visiting Armenia after a 16-year absence, he spoke about the creative process and his essential concerns as an artist. “Our whole life is based on a relentless inner dialogue,” he said. “To the artist, creativity is about finding the space of silence amidst that dialogue. The Hindus call this ‘meditation.’ This is where the path to self-knowledge takes root.” Ughurlyan continued: “We are all surrounded by love, whether we choose to tap into it or not. And when we do, awareness is close at hand. To me, love, awareness, and faith are concomitant expressions of the same source, which is trust. Trust the divine in you, and you’ll have faith in yourself. The rest is taken care of by the evolutionary processes of the soul.” All proceeds from the sale of books and compact discs will benefit the Creative Center for the Arts, a nonprofit organization launched recently in memory of Varujan Ughurlyan. The Creative Center for the Arts will support extraordinary art projects in Los Angeles and beyond, through small-scale grants and other awards.
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