Bio

MARINA MCHITARIAN LAZARIDOU, Ph.D.

Greece

Independent Researcher, Photographer, Writer, Cultural Activist

Researcher with a fundamental scientific background and a strategic vision, advanced analytical and project management skills, active social and speaking engagement

I have lived, studied, and worked in five countries. Currently I am based in Greece.

I grew up in Armenia in an intercultural environment since I was born to Armenian and Greek parents. Being a member of a binational family enabled me to learn four languages, think out-of-the-box, consider and analyze things in an international context beyond any national borders. I am always inclined to understand the core of a scientific problem, review roots and observe a situation from a holistic point of view. I have always had the curiosity, passion and interest in the fascinating challenges of solving scientific problems. For this reason, I chose the field of theoretical physics as an opportunity to understand and explore the universe and its laws. After completing my Ph.D. at the crossroads of mathematics and mathematical modeling, my mind was attracted to archaeology, another field where I studied the evidence of our civilization, history and evolution. I pursued postdoctoral studies in archaeology at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (Greece), as well as conducted research in archaeometallurgy at Ghent University (Belgium).

Being educated in the former USSR, born in the Caucasus and speaking Russian and Armenian strengthened and deepened my competencies in the geopolitical analysis of the region. I worked for almost 15 years in the Christian organization, Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, the religious and spiritual center of all Armenians scattered across the globe. The work in that religious organization taught me to be empathetic to others, offering assistance to those in need. Through a personal documentary of photographs from three Genocides: Armenian, Greek, and Assyrian, I broadened my vision and was compelled into the field of safeguarding cultural heritage in zones of conflict. During 2017 – 2019, I worked for the Dutch NGO ''Walk of Truth'' (The Hague, The Netherlands) whose mission was to protect cultural legacy in conflict-ridden zones.

I have authored 10 documentary photography projects. Every project is a complete comprehensive research on the topic. My personal photographic exhibit-presentations were held in New York, Los Angeles, London, Thessaloniki, Yerevan and elsewhere.

Since February 2020, I have worked as an independent researcher. In August 2020, I registered the ''Action for Peace'' NGO (Human Rights, Humanitarian Issues, and Peacebuilding) in Armenia. That same year, I was nominated for the ''Women Building Peace'' Award (US Institute of Peace, Washington, DC, USA).

Within the framework of the collaboration with the ''Save Armenian Monuments'' organization (New York, USA, President Dr. Virginia Davies), I visited Nagorno-Karabakh more than ten times in the aftermath of the war (January 2021 - July 2022).

In May 2022, I held two photographic exhibitions dedicated to Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) in Los Angeles and New York, USA. The first documentary film ''Nostos. This is my Homeland'' premiered in Los Angeles and New York at the opening ceremonies of these photo exhibits. My film has been selected for the 2022 virtual edition of the Pomegranate Film Festival (Toronto-Canada, November 2022). All the observations, thoughts, notes, emotions from the numerous visits to Nagorno-Karabakh in the aftermath of the war have been reflected in my first book ''Silence and Enigma of Memories'' (to be published soon).

As a result of my two-year-experience in the aftermath of the war, I designed the following courses of lectures:

Cultural heritage protection in zones of war and conflict (case studies of Ukraine, Syria, Libya, Iraq, Nagorno-Karabakh among others)

Women in Conflict-Ridden Zones: War, Nostos, and Peace

In 2023, the trilogy of the photo artistic projects "Hellas: Created by God, Shot by Marina'' is the new page in my creative space. Three photo artistic projects have been designed in the exclusive format - the combination of photography and creative writing. Every photo collection fits with the essay I have written. Recently I completed the project ''Enigma of Icon: A Window to Paradise''.

Why have I turned from Documentary Photography to Photo Art? On the MML Photography webpage it is comprehensively and creatively explained the mentioned transition. The holistic approach in a creative mission is essential.

MML Photography: https://mmlphotography.webnode.page/

Hellas, June 2024

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