1941 Born in the province of Mosul, Iraq. He is of Armenian descent.
1955 Was a political activist who participated in some demonstrations against the government’s policies, especially those that linked Iraq to foreign allies such as the Baghdad Pact. As a result, he was arrested and imprisoned for a short period.
He was a talented painter, and as a result, Jewad Selim and his colleagues accepted him as a fifteen-year-old member of the Baghdad Modern Art Group after an evaluation. He participated in its exhibitions and became the youngest member of the group.
1954 Participated in the Baghdad Exhibition for Painting and Sculpture, which was held in Al-Mansour Club for the first time. He also participated in the exhibition of the Impressionists Group.
1956 Participated in the Baghdad Exhibition for Painting and Sculpture, held at Al-Mansour Club, and displayed one painting in it.
1957 Participated in the Iraqi Art Exhibition in Beirut, displaying five paintings.
1958 Held his first solo exhibition in Baghdad at the Hall of the Institute of Fine Arts.
1961 Left Iraq and traveled to France at the age of twenty to study architecture in order to fulfill his father's ambition. Subsequently, he enrolled in the National School of Fine Arts in Paris to study art academically.
He was influenced by the Al-Wasiti Abbasid School, commonly referred to as the Baghdad School of Painting. Additionally, he was captivated by Impressionism, particularly the use of color and form as seen in the works of artists like Gauguin, Van Gogh, Manet, Paul Cézanne, and Matisse. He aimed to blend the styles of the Baghdad School and Impressionism, drawing inspiration from both origins.
He was captivated by the expressive lines and vibrant colors. Since his youth, he had looked forward to the paintings of Monet and Lautrec. He held a particular passion and admiration for Modigliani's works.
Ardash explored various methods and techniques throughout his artistic career. He worked with multiple mediums, including wood printing, engraving, and lithography, during which he created professional graphic works. He collaborated with several poets, notably Adonis, in the publication of the book "Ararat," which featured texts by Adonis alongside lithographs by Ardash. Additionally, he contributed illustrations to numerous French poetry books. His graphic work represents a significant artistic endeavor, blending his personal concerns with symbolism and an expressionist style. His drawings employ sharp lines that convey a memory filled with pain, nostalgia, and internal conflict.
1967 Held his first solo exhibition at the Four Winds Gallery in Paris.
1971 Won the Dom World Award and the first prize from the Salon d’Automne in Paris.
1975 Was mentioned in the French Encyclopedia of Larousse.
He was appointed as a teacher at the Institute of Fine Arts in Paris.
1980 Held a solo exhibition at Al-Wasiti hall in Baghdad in April.
November 30, 1987 to January 07, 1988 Held a solo exhibition at Al-Orfali Gallery in Baghdad, in which 25 lithographs were displayed.
2000 Passed away in Paris at the age of fifty-nine and asked that his body be cremated after his death and the remains of its ashes be scattered in the Tigris River.
