Restorer Lusine Tumanyan preserves Armenian cultural treasures

Lusine Tumanyan, a manuscript and canvas restorer at the Matenadaran in Yerevan, has dedicated her career to preserving Armenia's cultural heritage. Trained in St. Petersburg's renowned restoration schools, Tumanyan returned to Armenia to address a shortage of specialized expertise in the field.

Working in the Matenadaran's laboratories, she treats each artifact as an individual work requiring deep understanding and respect for the original artist's intent. Tumanyan describes her methodology as precise and scientific, prioritizing the preservation of historical accuracy over aesthetic preferences.

Balancing roles as both a professional restorer and independent painter, Tumanyan notes the tension between the two disciplines. Her work on pieces like the St. Mark's canvas requires understanding artistic choices rather than imposing her own style. She emphasizes that restoration demands subordinating emotion to factual methodology.