Datevig Berberian: Art Across Surfaces

At Kulturnest, the Garden Artist Residency is conceived as a living space for creation where artists step out of isolation and into a shared environment shaped by process, presence, and exchange, even in times when such spaces are increasingly fragile. For the Spring 2026 edition, 4 artists were selected from 46 applicants. Among them is Datevig Berberian, a multidisciplinary artist whose presence is warm, generous, and quietly vibrant.

Since the beginning of the residency, Datevig has been creating in the garden through a painting practice that moves fluidly across textiles, ceramics, pottery, wood, and canvas. Her work unfolds through hand-painting and mixed techniques, transforming everyday materials into expressive and meaningful pieces. Whether she is painting a mug, a plate, a wooden object, or a canvas, she brings the same attention, sensitivity, and care to each surface.

Datevig is a sweet soul and a multitalented artist, shifting between original drawing and painting, customization, and contextualization. If you want tomatoes, she will draw them. If a surface carries memory, she will find a way to make it speak. Her work often blends delicate forms, floral details, and beautiful symbols of her Armenian heritage, creating pieces that feel personal, accessible, and full of life.

This conversation offers a closer look into her journey, her practice, and the many surfaces through which she brings her world into form:

Kulturnest: Can you briefly introduce yourself and your artistic background?

Datevig: I am a multidisciplinary artist working across textiles, ceramics, wood, and canvas. My background is rooted in fine arts, and I further developed my practice through my studies at the Saryan Academy. Over time, I’ve been exploring how art can move beyond traditional formats into everyday objects, transforming different materials into expressive and meaningful pieces.

Kulturnest: How would you describe your artistic practice and main medium(s)?

Datevig: My practice is multidisciplinary and material-driven. I work with textiles, ceramics, wood, and canvas, using hand-painting and mixed techniques to create unique pieces. While I often create wearable art, my work extends beyond that into objects and surfaces that people can interact with in their daily lives.

Kulturnest: What themes or questions currently drive your work?

Datevig: My work is driven by the relationship between art, memory, and everyday life. I’m interested in how personal stories, cultural symbols, and simple daily objects can carry emotion and meaning. Through my practice, I explore how art can become part of someone’s routine, identity, or space, while still holding something intimate and expressive.

Kulturnest: What have you been developing during your Spring 2026 residency at Kulturnest Garden?

Datevig: During my residency, I have been developing works across different materials, especially painted objects and surfaces. I’ve been exploring how ceramics, wood, and canvas can each carry a different visual language, while still belonging to the same artistic universe. The garden setting has allowed me to work in a more open and spontaneous way, while sharing parts of my process with visitors.

Kulturnest: What does this residency mean to you personally and professionally?

Datevig: This residency has given me the space to experiment, connect, and present my work in a more direct way. Personally, it has been meaningful to create in an environment that encourages exchange and presence. Professionally, it has allowed me to expand how people encounter my work, not only as finished pieces, but also through the process of making.

Kulturnest: What are some of the challenges you face as an artist in Lebanon today?

Datevig: Working as an artist in Lebanon comes with multiple layers of challenges. Beyond the economic instability and limited access to materials, especially when working across mediums, there is also the ongoing political uncertainty and the impact of conflict and war. These conditions can affect both the ability to produce work and the emotional space needed to create.

At the same time, these challenges have pushed me to become more resilient and adaptable. They influence my perspective and often deepen the emotional and conceptual layers of my work, encouraging me to continue creating despite the circumstances.

Kulturnest: What are your next steps or plans?

Datevig: Moving forward, I plan to expand my collections across different mediums. I’m interested in collaborating with concept stores and creative spaces, and in strengthening my brand identity. I also aim to explore exhibition opportunities locally and internationally, while continuing to experiment and push the boundaries between art, design, and material exploration.