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Armenia’s Symphony of Stones has inspired 3D artist Artur Artinyan to create a fantastical digital environment featuring monumental basalt columns, golden symbols and fiery gates. The project, titled Sonata of the Stones, was presented by the artist in an interview with 80 Level, a publication dedicated to digital art and computer graphics.

The idea emerged after a visit to the natural monument in Garni. Artinyan recalls first seeing it as a child and being captivated by the unusual geometry of its basalt columns, which resemble the pipes of a giant organ. Years later, that impression became the starting point for creating his own artistic world, blending Armenian cultural motifs with the aesthetics of dark fantasy.

How the Digital World Was Created

One of the main challenges was capturing the distinctive structure of the basalt columns while avoiding a repetitive appearance. Artinyan studied photographs of the rock formations, created simplified 3D models and then positioned them manually within the scene, varying their scale, placement and rotation.

The project required only around five unique models. The artist achieved variety through different combinations and carefully planned composition. He also paid particular attention to the stone surfaces, using textures and masks to add signs of wear, dirt and other details that made the rocks look more realistic.

The restrained gray palette is complemented by golden elements, including a sun symbol. These details do more than decorate the scene: they create visual focal points and connect the composition to symbolic motifs.

Light, Fire and the Atmosphere of an Ancient Sanctuary

Lighting plays a crucial role in the project. Artinyan sought to evoke an ancient, almost sacred space in which light becomes especially striking against the darkness.

An asymmetrical arrangement of tall, slender stone formations draws the eye toward the golden sun symbol and the fiery gates. A warm orange glow reflects off the basalt, while beams of light enhance the sense of depth. Candles in the foreground contribute to the atmosphere without distracting from the central elements.

Artinyan was not aiming to reproduce the geological structure of the Symphony of Stones with scientific precision. His goal was to preserve the natural monument’s recognizable forms while transforming them into part of a fantastical world.

Music Became an Extension of the Visual Experience

Original music composed by Grigor Abgaryan helped bring the project to completion. The association between the basalt columns and organ pipes inspired the soundtrack, which ties the visual elements together and gives the scene an additional layer of depth.

While working on Sonata of the Stones, Artinyan concluded that an expressive digital environment can be created without a large number of unique models. Composition, attention to detail and the ability to make effective use of available tools are what matter most.

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