“Mothers” Diary

Sketchbook «Back home to Artsakh» from the series of ARTsakh by Dilakian Brothers. The ARTsakh series personifies the well-known ”Papik” and ”Tatik” figures from the ”We Are Our Mountains” monument in Nagorno-Karabakh as vibrant symbols of the plight, resilience, pride and rich heritage of Armenians. After the war Tatik and Papik go back home- to the monument.  

The Dilakian Brothers, Hovik and Gagik, are Armenian-born, New York City-bred mixed media artists whose collaborative works are admired internationally. Over the years, these creative siblings have excelled in many fields, including fine art, illustration, animation, photography, fashion, set and interior design, book publishing and more.

The artistic duo is perhaps best known for writing, illustrating and directing the most popular animated film in Armenian history, Found Dream (Gtnvatz Eraz), in 1976. Found Dream has been treasured by more than three generations of Armenians and is still loved to this day, garnering millions of views on YouTube. In 2017, the Dilakian Brothers published a successful children’s book based on the film. 

Most recently, the Dilakian Brothers have created the innovative ARTsakh series, a trending collection of original artworks that has taken social media by storm. Created in response to the border conflict in Armenia, the series personifies the well-known ‘Papik’ (grandfather) and ‘Tatik’ (grandmother) figures from the ‘We Are Our Mountains’ monument in Nagorno-Karabakh. Through ARTsakh, the beloved couple is brought to life as a vibrant symbol of the plight, resilience, pride and rich heritage of Armenians. The ARTsakh series has blossomed into a source of hope and inspiration for fans across the globe as they watch Armenia navigate a difficult event and its aftermath.