Ashkhen Zakharyan (安山)

About

Hi and welcome! I am Ashkhen, a traveler, an art creator, a photographer and a speaker of 10 languages. I speak Armenian, English, Chinese, Russian, Japanese, French, Norwegian, Faroese, Luxembourgish and German. And I have traveled to 57 countries!

Ashkhen Zakharyan standing on a rocky mountain summit with a lake and valleys in the background

Projects I worked on

Commercial growth and business development professional with 9+ years of experience across FinTech and AI, working in the sector since before the technology’s widespread adoption.

At AIVA, I helped scale the platform from zero to millions of users globally. I negotiated speaker agreements for our co-founders’ international conference engagements, supported investor relations, including meetings conducted in Chinese with the CEO of NetEase (NTES), managed communications with B2C and B2B clients, and collaborated with the creative team to deliver personalised music solutions for our customers. Below are a few examples:

Articles I contributed to

Throughout my career, I have contributed to numerous articles around the world—whether through writing, being interviewed, providing thoughtful responses, or capturing photographs to enrich each story. Below are a few examples:

Art

I create bottle art, textured art, paintings and crafts using clay, acrylic and oil paints, epoxy resin, filler foam and recycled materials. My main goal is to turn empty bottles, jars and other everyday trash into art pieces which would otherwise end up in the bin. Through my art I wish to inspire others to find a second use-case for everyday waste before deciding to discard them.

You can see more of my artworks here

Kraken Art

Two pirate-ship sculptures made from Kraken rum bottles, one with cream sails and one with black sails, beside a pond.
The Black Pearls - Original Kraken Rum Bottles
A single black-sailed pirate ship sculpture made from a Kraken rum bottle, outdoors beside a pond.
The Black Pearl - Original Kraken Rum Bottle
A black Kraken rum bottle sculpted with coiled tentacles, resting on a wooden boat deck beside a sail.
The Bloody Kraken - Original Kraken Rum Bottle
A black Kraken rum bottle sculpted with sprawling tentacles, perched on a seaside rock against bright blue water.
The Pirate's Nightmare - Original Kraken Rum Bottle
A blue Kraken rum bottle wrapped with sculpted black tentacles, standing upright in surf on a sunny pebble beach.
The Kraken - Original Kraken Rum Bottle
A black Kraken rum bottle sculpted with tentacles, standing on a rocky shore with waves crashing behind it.
The Black Kraken - Original Kraken Rum Bottle
A black Kraken rum bottle decorated with sculpted tentacles and small skulls, standing on a beach with the sea behind it.
The Killer Kraken - Original Kraken Rum Bottle
A black Kraken rum bottle decorated with sculpted tentacles and a golden heart-shaped wire, standing on a lakeside rock with mountains behind it.
The Golden Kraken - Original Kraken Rum Bottle
A teal Kraken rum bottle sculpted with black tentacles, standing on a rocky shore with waves behind it.
The Fantasy Kraken - Original Kraken Rum Bottle
A red Kraken rum bottle standing on a pebble beach at sunset with gentle waves behind it.
The Sunset Kraken - Original Kraken Rum Bottle
A black Kraken rum bottle decorated with sculpted tentacles and a golden heart-shaped wire, standing on a sandy beach with gentle surf behind it.
The Golden Kraken - Original Kraken Rum Bottle
A small blue Kraken rum bottle wrapped with sculpted black tentacles, standing on a blue railing with a soft rocky shoreline behind it.
The Mini Kraken - Original Kraken Rum Bottle
A copper-colored Kraken rum bottle sculpted with dark tentacles and aged patina, tied to a weathered black pier post wrapped with thick rope.
The Rusty Kraken - Original Kraken Rum Bottle
A black Kraken rum bottle sculpted with dark tentacles, lying inside an open vintage wooden chest beside a wax-sealed letter.
The Kraken Chest - Original Kraken Rum Bottle in Chest
A copper-colored Kraken rum bottle sculpted with dark tentacles, lying inside an open black luxury box.
The Luxury Kraken - Original Kraken Rum Bottle
Two black Kraken rum bottles decorated with sculpted tentacles and gold-ringed suction cups, standing in front of vintage wooden chests.
The Twin Krakens - Original Kraken Rum Bottles
A black Kraken rum bottle sculpted with dark tentacles, displayed on a vintage map table runner with candlelight.
The Black Kraken - Original Kraken Rum Bottle
A copper-colored Kraken rum bottle sculpted with dark tentacles and aged patina, displayed on a vintage map table runner with candlelight.
The Rusty Kraken - Original Kraken Rum Bottle
A teal Kraken rum bottle sculpted with bright blue tentacles and ringed suction cups, standing on a woven outdoor table.
The Blue-Ringed Kraken - Original Kraken Rum Bottle
A black Kraken rum bottle sculpted with dark and red tentacles, standing on a bright pink surface against a weathered wall.
The Yo-Ho-Ho Kraken - Original Kraken Rum Bottle
A purple Kraken rum bottle wrapped with sculpted red tentacles, standing on a rock beside calm water with bare branches in the foreground.
The Modern Kraken - Original Kraken Rum Bottle
Three colorful Kraken rum bottle sculptures arranged on a staircase.
The Three Modern Krakens - Original Kraken Rum Bottles
Three Kraken rum bottles sculpted with dark tentacles, displayed side by side against a white background.
The Three Krakens - Original Kraken Rum Bottles
Three sculpted Kraken rum bottles in black, copper, and white finishes, arranged on a wooden tray against a dark background.
The Three Modern Krakens - Original Kraken Rum Bottles
A silver-painted Kraken rum bottle with sculpted black tentacles, standing on a wooden tray against a dark background.
The Silver Kraken - Original Kraken Rum Bottle
A black Kraken rum bottle decorated with sculpted black tentacles and copper-gilded details, standing on a white surface against a soft grey background.
The Copper Kraken - Original Kraken Rum Bottle
A black Kraken rum bottle with sculpted dark tentacles coiled around its neck and body, standing against a plain white background.
The Mysterious Kraken - Original Kraken Rum Bottle
A black Kraken rum bottle wrapped with sculpted tentacles and twine netting, displayed on a white surface against a geometric black-and-white background.
Release The Kraken - Original Kraken Rum Bottle
A deep blue Kraken rum bottle heavily coated with sculpted black tentacles and barnacles, standing on a white pedestal against a modern staircase.
The Savage Kraken - Original Kraken Rum Bottle
A Kraken rum bottle sculpture with sculpted black tentacles wrapped around the vessel, displayed on a white pedestal.
The Ship-wrecker Kraken - Original Rum Bottle
A metallic silver Kraken rum bottle with sculpted black tentacles and a heart-shaped bottle stopper, standing on a wet stone surface.
The Silver Kraken - Original Kraken Rum Bottle
A dark Kraken rum bottle with sculpted black tentacles and red accents, standing on a pebble beach at the water's edge.
The Bleeding Kraken - Original Kraken Rum Bottle
A glossy blue Kraken rum bottle decorated with silver sculpted tentacles and sparkling details, viewed from above on a light surface.
The Pop-Art Kraken - Original Kraken Rum Bottle

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The Lord of the Rings Art

I turn pickle jars into Hobbit Houses!

A handmade Hobbit house sculpture with a round wooden door, set in moss with candlelight and smoke at night.
Sam's House - Original Handmade Hobbit House
A handmade Hobbit house sculpture with a green round door and warm interior light, nestled in moss and greenery.
Bilbo's House - Original Handmade Hobbit House
The reverse side of Sam's handmade Hobbit house sculpture, showing a round wooden door and mossy garden details.
Sam's House (the reverse side) - Original Handmade Hobbit House

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Paintings

All paintings are original works by me. I create oil, acrylic and mixed media artworks. My art is inspired from my travels and fantasy. Through my art I want to show the beauty of our world and our imagination.

A large textured painting in warm desert tones, evoking sand dunes.
Arrakis - Original Handmade Painting, Oil on Canvas, 100 cm x 100 cm
A textured painting with molten red and black volcanic surfaces.
The Volcano - Original Handmade Textured Painting, 140 cm x 100 cm
A mixed media painting inspired by the blue lakes and cliffs of Imotski.
イモツキ Imotski - Original Mixed Media Painting, 100 cm x 100 cm
A handmade painting composed with real banknotes from twenty-eight countries.
Justice - Original Handmade Painting, Used Real Money from 28 Countries, 70 cm x 70 cm
A four-panel acrylic painting in golden and white winter tones.
The Golden Winter - Original Painting, Acrylic on Canvas, 40 cm x 40 cm x 4 pcs
An oil painting of blossoming pink sakura branches.
Sakura - Original Handmade Painting, Oil on Canvas, 70 cm x 50 cm

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Ikebana

All Ikebanas are original arrangements by me, using predominantly wild flowers and natural ingredients. Through my compositions I want to highlight the beauty of wild nature.

A sculptural blue ceramic vase with orange nasturtium flowers, displayed on a white pedestal.
A cut-glass vase holding delicate white wildflowers, displayed on a white pedestal.
A low black ceramic bowl with yellow buttercups, ferns, and pine branches.
An autumn ikebana arrangement with red vines, white daisies, and driftwood in a dark vase.
An ikebana arrangement with red leaves and a white lily in a dark stone vase, set against a slate wall.
An ikebana arrangement with red leaves and a white lily in a cut-glass vase, on a dark table.
A glass vase with yellow and orange flowers, ferns, and green beech branches against slate.
A minimalist ikebana with green fennel and tiny white flowers in a dark bowl against slate.
An ikebana arrangement with green beech branches and purple clover in a round glass vase.

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Photography

I’m inspired by the beauty that surrounds us and seek to capture it through my lens wherever I travel. Through my photography I wish to invite others to pause, appreciate, and protect the world we share. I use Canon R6 camera to take my pictures. You can see more of my photos here.

Snow-capped Mount Cook reflected in a calm lake beneath a clear blue sky
Mount Cook, New Zealand
Snow-capped Mount Ararat rising above green hills and vineyards under a partly cloudy sky
Mount Ararat, Ararat Region, Armenia
A calm lake reflecting cloud-covered mountains and islands in the Otago Region of New Zealand
Paradise, Otago Region, New Zealand
The Remarkables mountain range rising above Lake Wakatipu near Queenstown, with a small boat on the bright blue water
Lake Wakatipu, Queenstown, New Zealand
Lake Sevan reflecting snow-dusted mountains under a pale blue sky, Armenia
Lake Sevan, Armenia
The TSS Earnslaw steamship cruising on Lake Wakatipu with the Remarkables mountain range behind, Queenstown, New Zealand
Lake Wakatipu, Queenstown, New Zealand
A small tree-covered island at sunset in calm waters off Kampong Jerudong, Brunei
Kampong Jerudong, Brunei
A tall ship sailing on Sydney Harbour with the Sydney skyline, Opera House and Harbour Bridge behind
Sydney, NSW, Australia
The TSS Earnslaw steamship cruising on Lake Wakatipu at sunset with mountains behind, Queenstown, New Zealand
Lake Wakatipu, Queenstown, New Zealand
A purple and orange sunset over Lake Wakatipu with mountain silhouettes, Queenstown, New Zealand
Lake Wakatipu, Queenstown, New Zealand
Colourful New Year fireworks over Sydney Harbour with the Opera House, Harbour Bridge and city skyline reflected on the water
Sydney, NSW, Australia
A duck swimming on the calm, misty surface of Mirror Lakes with native flax and forested hills reflected in the water, New Zealand
Mirror Lakes, New Zealand
Snow-capped Mount Cook above a turquoise glacier lake and rocky moraine in the Hooker Valley, New Zealand
Mount Cook, New Zealand
The clear, reflective water of Lake Alta surrounded by rocky alpine peaks, New Zealand
Lake Alta, New Zealand
The rugged Remarkables mountain range rising behind golden grassland and a tree stump near Queenstown, New Zealand
The Remarkables, New Zealand
A wide valley view of the Hooker Valley with Mount Cook and the Southern Alps rising above a braided river plain, New Zealand
Hooker Valley, New Zealand
A close-up view of Mount Cook summit partially wrapped in clouds with glaciers and ridges, New Zealand
Mount Cook, New Zealand
The Sydney Opera House at dusk, its white sails glowing above the harbour with crowds along the forecourt
Sydney, NSW, Australia
Colourful historic warehouses and boats along Bergen harbour with green hills and Mount Fløyen rising behind, Norway
Bergen, Norway
A coastal village with a stone church and red-tiled roofs on Brač Island, with mountains and clouds across the water, Croatia
Brač Island, Croatia
The Grand Canal in Venice with boats passing historic palaces and the domed Santa Maria della Salute basilica, Italy
Venice, Italy
Woven lanterns glowing at dusk above flowering plants on a rooftop terrace in Marrakesh, Morocco
Marrakesh, Morocco
Two vibrant red lories perched on a wooden rail with soft green foliage in the background, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Modern high-rise towers of the Kuala Lumpur skyline rising above highways and distant hazy mountains, Malaysia
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Golden sunrise light reflecting across wet sand and gentle ocean waves on a Sydney beach, NSW, Australia
Sydney, NSW, Australia
Turquoise waves washing over golden sand and dark rocks along the shoreline at Watsons Bay, NSW, Australia
Watsons Bay, NSW, Australia
A family of long-tailed macaques grooming and resting on a stone ledge among lush greenery, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Hobbit holes with colourful round doors set into the rolling green hills of the Hobbiton Movie Set, New Zealand
Hobbiton Movie Set, New Zealand
Traditional Chinese garden architecture with layered curved tile roofs and wooden pavilions surrounded by trees in Hangzhou, China
Hangzhou, China

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Contact

For inquiries, collaborations, or just to say hello, reach out through the links below.