Artist Statement: My concept and design for this piano is inspired by Art Deco. Some of the most iconic landmarks in New York City are designed in this style, such as the Empire State Building, Rockefeller Center, and the Chrysler Building. When I first came to NYC, these famous skyline icons were what I first recognized and loved, but as I came to know the city, I discovered lesser known, sometimes hidden Art Deco gems throughout the city. The Art Deco designer Donald Deskey is most famous for his designs at Radio City Hall, but one of my favorite pieces is a black and white lacquered box designed by Deskey on display at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The black and white designs suggests a piano's keyboard, which I reference in my design as well. I play with 2 and 3 dimensional space, giving the design rhythm and movement, while referring to jazz music from the speakeasy culture of the Art Deco period. The design is abstract, in the same way that music is an abstract and therefore universal language.
Andranik Aroutiounian is a visual artist focused on painting and drawing. He is of Armenian descent and has lived in various places including Armenia, Madagascar, Russia, France, The Netherlands, and Switzerland. He currently lives and works in New York City. Andranik earned a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Fine Art from the School of Fine Arts in Geneva, Switzerland (Ecole Supérieure des Beaux-arts de Genève), working with Professor Wilheim from the Sorbonne University (l'Université de Sorbonne). Andranik was the recipient of a Willem de Kooing Acadamy Fellowship for Painting. He regularly exhibits his work internationally and is involved in various curatorial and collaborative projects as well.
