Alyona displaced from Artsakh: The colors of T-shirts and tote bags embellished with national patterns are as vivid as my memories

After the 44-day war, Alyona Sargsyan, displaced from Mets
Tagher village of Hadrut District, left her studio full of paints, unfinished
paintings and dreams about her native village. 

“Our days in the village were quite busy. We used to gather
in our neighborhood every day, to play and argue. Then, startled by our
mothers’ voices, we ran home to do our homework,” she says.

After the end of the war, Alyona’s family did not return to
Artsakh. It was only her, who went back and continued her studies at Artsakh
State University.

“We used to go out of town with students to learn to draw
every detail of nature with our professors. I like drawing very much and try to
draw beautifully. My skill has become a source of income for me. At first, I
received orders for portraits, then I came to paint on tote bags and T-shirts,”
Alyona says.

Alyona set up her business during the blockade, when
starting a business seemed somewhat unrealistic. She used to walk from one end
of the city to the other to find paints, T-shirts and tote bags. Now she has
everything she needs; only customers are few.

“My works are mostly on the Artsakh theme. I accept
individual orders on other themes as well, but when I design something on my
own, my focus is Artsakh, that gives me scope for creativity,” she says.

Now being far from Artsakh, Alyona has decided to continue
working, to start a family and try to live in Armenia until she will be able to
return home, Artsakh.