The artist works manually in the original engineering technic from XVII century without use of means of automation, but on an exact mathematical basis in perspective projections.
Depending on relief character and final view the author choose the direction of projection, define a height of horizon, depth of the image, kind of a projection and construction of the image on a map-basis. Artist do sketches of buildings, monuments and elements of a landscape and then transform all initial cartographical material into the alive artwork.
The unique artist's perception of the world is reflected in his works, full of colours and life.
One of the main expressive means Atayan Ruben uses is line. Thin and sharp they form the silhouette of the district from the bird's eye view.
Watercolour makes it volume and full of life. With the game of light and shade Ruben Atayan highlights the main points of interest. The selected shades and colors take us beyond the flat image, conveying a direct experience of the atmosphere of the place.
Ruben Atayan’s maps usually include picturesque natural background: mountains, see or forest and a decoration in a style of antique maps of XVI-XVII centuries.
The hand-made map is a symbol of a time. The city, island, or monument will change, but the memory of the special moment of its existence is forever kept by the map.
Of course for practical purposes sometimes it is necessary to update the map. The artist draws new buildings/districts and then these elements are added on the computer to the scanned original map.
Beijing, China 2001
Venice map
St.Petersburg, Russia
Map of Belarus
Durban, South Africa, 2003
Berlin map
