"Ashtarak Mayor Wants to Remove Tree of Peace by Sculptor Massimo Lippi" by Carlo Coppola

Questo articolo di Carlo Coppola è apparso in lingua italiana sulle riviste Bariconnessa.

«Աշտարակի քաղաքապետը ցանկանում է հանել քանդակագործ Մասիմո Լիպիի խաղաղության ծառը»: Կառլո Կոպպոլայի հոդված.

The famous Armenian sculptor Vighen Avetis warns on his Facebook page that the mayor of Ashtarak, the capital of Aragatsotn province, has decided to remove the modern art work "Albero della Pace/Խաղաղության ծառ" by prof. Massimo Lippi, from Siena, calling him "a useless piece of iron". Both the master Vighen Avedis and the professor Lippi are sculptors of clear fame, both inserted in contexts that recognize them for their quality and originality at an international level.

The sculptures of both often go beyond the figurative level and synthesize it in symbols and structures, through the use of specific materials and archetypal elements. Their works are, without a doubt, known and appreciated in various parts of the world not only in Armenia and Italy but also in the rest of Europe, Asia and America. Recently both were protagonists of the documentary "Avetis" dedicated to the Armenian master and made by the director Rouben Kochar.

Their main intent is the continuous dissemination - never redundant - of respect for human values, individual and collective freedom, non-violence and brotherhood between peoples, not as an ideological act but as a concrete and natural action that should pervade every aspect of society. For this freedom of thought, they have sometimes been considered difficult to grasp and circumscribe in an artistic vein or to manage politically by those who only appreciate organic art in power.

For these reasons, the message of Lippi, like that of Vighen Avetis, may not be immediately grasped by those who do not possess the cultural and cognitive tools, and by those who do not have the sensitivity to be able to understand the artistic act and its results.

Lippi, in addition to being a sculptor, is a poet, performer and theater director and has often dedicated his actions and intentions to Armenia, making it the goal of his art-life paths. Trees, like the "Albero della Pace/Խաղաղության ծառ", are often at the center of his initiatives as the maximum archetypal element. In 2014, the Sienese master communicated to the public present at the inauguration of his “Albero della Pace/Խաղաղության ծառ”:

“The tree, symbol of the suffering of the Armenian people, has been subjected to various acts of violence. They cut it to dry it, they broke it to destroy it, but by a divine miracle and by the will of the people, it turned again, contrary to suffering, took the path of life and resurrection, like a zigzag, bending towards life, it was cut again, again subjected to violence and suffering.” And he continued: “When I saw these useless instruments of war, I understood that they had to be given life again. And I decided to cut these metal pipes so as to symbolize the history of Armenia, which, after being destroyed, crushed, returns to life and peace every time it is cut. At the top is Noah's dove, which symbolizes peace. I would really like the whole world to talk about this city and peace to begin here.” The sculpture was installed in October 2014 by decision of the Council of Elders (City Council) of the city of Ashtarak, with the approval of the Urban Development Council. The work was made with recycled materials and the two artists looked for a place where there were scraps and unused metal tools that could symbolize the resilience and resistance of the Armenian people. A large metal trunk symbolizes the birth of Armenia, from it the initial branches unravel, which are cut but grow back, struggling between life and death. The base of the statue represents Armenian history, and on the highest part there is the biblical mountain Ararat, which dominates and guides everyone. Armenia, subjected to suffering, turned to life with Christian faith. The dove with the olive branch on the top of the tree is the symbol of the end of the suffering and pain of the Armenian people. At the same time it symbolizes Christ, who is Resurrection, or rebirth, and holding the olive branch in his mouth, he brings the tree of life back to the place from which it originated. It should be noted that in 2014, the statue "Albero della Pace/Խաղաղության ծառ" donated to Ashtarak by Massimo Lippi was installed in the square dedicated to the Catholicos Narek V, a native of the area.

Vighen Avetis wanted to draw attention to this decision of the mayor of Ashtarak, which he calls "an act of barbarism". His is a request for help to Armenian public and private institutions, especially the Armenian Government, to make the mayor desist from this clearly arbitrary act that offends the recent history of the city of Ashtarak.