MONUMENTS
MONUMENT “OLD FLOWER SELLER” (KARABALA)
1995
Sculptor: Levon Tokmajyan
Stepan Harutyunyan, known as Karabala (translated: black child, infant) and loved by Yerevan residents, was born
in Kanaker at the beginning of the
last century (probably in 1900), in a wealthy family that owned flower gardens
in the area of the current “Yeritasardakan” metro station in Yerevan. After the
establishment of Soviet rule in Armenia, the family was dispossessed. Stepan
married a woman named Ashkhen and had a son. Due to circumstances, he was
arrested and found himself in the same prison cell with Yeghishe Charents. His
wife, not waiting for Stepan’s release, sold the house, remarried, and forbade
her son to meet his father.
Karabala loved to give flowers to women and girls passing along Astafyan
(now Abovyan) Street, conveying with the flowers the love and kindness kept in
his soul. He was fascinated by Arus Voskanyan, who passed by that street on her
way to work at the Sundukyan Theater, and every day he gave a red rose to the
famous actress.
Deprived of home and family, Karabala spent his days near the familiar
Central Department Store and the neighboring “Caucasus” restaurant, living in
the store's warehouse. Forced to leave the warehouse for a few days due to
inspections, he froze outside and died in the hospital, alone and abandoned.
The location of his grave is still unknown.
Poems dedicated to Karabala were written by Hovhannes Shiraz, Yeghishe
Charents, and Hamo Sahyan. In 1995, his statue was installed on Abovyan Street
(sculptor: Levon Tokmajyan).
The statue is made of bronze, 2 m high. Karabala is depicted in his old
age, with a basket of flowers hanging from his left arm, and a rose extended in
his right hand. The plastically crafted semi-naked, thin and flexible body, and
natural posture give the sculpture liveliness and dynamism. The statue was
initially set up on Abovyan Street, near the entrance of the “Children’s World”
(formerly Central) department store’s grocery section. Later, due to the
construction of Northern Avenue, it was moved several times (Teryan Street,
Northern Avenue near the “Moskvichka” store). Now it is located a bit below its
original place, under the wall of the same department store.
“Scientific Research Centre of Historical and Cultural Heritage” SNCO
Yerevan Municipality