YEREVAN — Today, a statue honoring People’s Artist of Armenia, actor, and director Yervand Manaryan was unveiled in Yerevan, commemorating his lasting legacy in Armenian cinema and theater. The ceremony was attended by high-ranking officials, including Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, Chief of Staff Arayik Harutyunyan, Yerevan Mayor Tigran Avinyan, and Minister of Education, Science, Culture, and Sports Zhanna Andreasyan, along with prominent figures from the cultural community.
The 2.8-meter statue, unveiled by Zhanna Andreasyan and Manaryan’s son, Krist Manaryan, stands near 4 Sayat-Nova Avenue, in front of the Hovhannes Tumanyan National Puppet Theater. This significant monument, erected in celebration of the artist’s 100th birth anniversary, reflects his enduring impact on Armenian culture.
Ruben Babayan, inspired by a memorable scene from the film The Bride from the North, envisioned the statue as “living” and dynamic, capturing Manaryan’s spirited personality. The bronze statue, crafted by artist Armenak Vardanyan, required eight months to complete and portrays Manaryan riding a motorcycle, a nod to the film and his indomitable character.
The celebration continued with the release of a commemorative stamp dedicated to Manaryan’s centennial. Issued with a face value of 380 drams, the stamp features a portrait of the actor and the inscriptions “100 YEARS,” “YERVAND MANARYAN,” and “Armenian actor, director” in both Armenian and English. The event also included a photo exhibition, further honoring Manaryan’s remarkable contributions to Armenian arts and culture.
