An exhibition of abstract paintings by Armenian artist Arshak Nersisian opened on Monday at the Architects' Club.

The 51-year-old artist was born in Yerevan, the capital of Armenian. He was educated in the Armenian artistic tradition at the "Terlemizyan" art school, and later in the Yerevan Theatre Arts Academy. He specialized in graphic art in Russia's cultural capital, St. Petersburg, and in the Pribaltic region.

Since his first exhibition in 1985, he has participated in a number of solo and joint exhibitions in Armenia and other ex-Soviet Union states, Finland, Germany, and Iran.

The works on display at the Architects' Club are from the last two years. The colours of the exhibition are warm and merry - yellow, orange, and red - but the images seem quite sad. "They will get merry later, after they have had some fun," said Nersisian.

Most of the works are at the more abstract end of the artistic scale. "Every artist starts with naturalism, and over time evolves and gets ripe for new things, new ideas, and new art forms," said the artist. "The Varna Port," one of Nersisian's oldest works is the exhibition's only naturalistic piece. "Even in naturalistic pictures of flowers the vase is not exactly round but the shape and the thought have been freed," he said.

The exhibition does not have a title or a prevailing theme. His topics are the eternal topics of the artist - woman, love, the beauty of nature. Among the 40 paintings exhibited, nearly 10 are of flowers.

Three nations are represented in the exhibits. There is a Spanish series, which includes some of the saddest images - Don Quixote and a lonely Queen. There are also images dedicated to Nersisian's homeland, such as an Armenian Madonna. Finally, there are images inspired by Bulgaria, his new homeland.

Since he arrived in 1996, Nersisian has staged seven solo exhibits and has participated in a number of joint exhibitions with Bulgarian artists. Most of these events have taken place in Varna, where the Armenian artist lives. Arshak has also helped to decorate the "St. Boris" church in Varna.

Nersisian would like to stay in Bulgaria, and has applied for Bulgarian citizenship. "It is a wonderful country, especially the people," he said. Nersisian's exhibition will be on display at the Architects' Club (11 Krakra Street) until September 5. The paintings are for sale for between 250 and 1,500 leva.