Photo Exhibit Proposal
CHRISTIAN ARMENIA & ARTSAKH:
SILENT WITNESSES of HISTORY or IDENTITY in STONE
Proposal
- Do stones speak?
-Stones of the Armenian churches and monasteries, cross-stones
sing ''Dle Yaman'' (Lord Have Mercy)...Close your eyes and listen....
Dr. Marina Mchitarian-Lazaridou is of Armenian-Greek descent. She has lived, studies, and worked in five countries. Currently she is based in Greece. Last six years her professional experience was related to the conflict-ridden zones. In 2020-2022 it was Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh). She authored nine documentary photography projects, held ten photographic exhibit-presentations in London, Thessaloniki, Los Angeles, New York, Yerevan, Sushi etc. In May 2022 her photo shows were held in the Western&Eastern Dioceses of Armenian Apostolic Church - Los Angeles and New York:
Being the grandchild of the 1915 Armenian Genocide survivor, Dr. Mchitarian-Lazaridou keeps memories from the childhood when her grandfather was telling his story of survival. ''1915....a 8-year old boy from Mush finds refuge in Armenia with a group of other orphans... The ancestral mountains inspire consolation (''mkhitarutun'' in Armenian)....Such was the blessing bestowed upon the family of Mkhitaryans....''
In the welcoming speech at the opening ceremony of the photo show in Los Angeles Dr. Mchitarian-Lazaridou emphasized: ''This is the 2nd time when my exhibit in the USA is being held in May, Mother's Day Month. Mother's love is a prayer for all of us. Mother's Love is a blessing to all of us. Artsakh has Mother's Love aroma for the Armenian people scattered across the globe. It is time to give a voice to this love''.
The present offer for the photo show ''CHRISTIAN ARMENIA AND ARTSAKH: SILENT WITNESSES OF HISTORY OR IDENTITY IN STONE'' is the result of the 15-year-shooting in Armenia and Artsakh. Dr. Mchitarian-Lazaridou's photographic collection is vast, exclusive, and unique. The Christian monuments of Armenia and Artsakh are the silent witnesses of history - dark and bright, hard and inspiring, destructive and constructive...The Christian monuments of Armenia and Artsakh are the pillars of national identity - this is identity in stone. The 15-year-work at the spiritual center of All Armenians - Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin fostered spirituality of her photo collection. It is worthy to note that the aforesaid photo exhibit proposal is a complete documentary photography project. Her visuals speak, their narratives are very attractive, sensitive, emotional, spiritual, inspiring.
The exhibition will extend attendants' understanding of Armenian culture and art, architecture and history. Dr. Mchitarian-Lazaridou was a field expert in the aftermath of the 2nd Artsakh war. She was fearless in taking photographs on the tops of the highlands in Nagorno-Karabakh, sometimes extremely close to the border and in the war alert situations. Her photographic legacy created during 2021-2022 is a pattern of devotion to protecting and documenting the world heritage in zones of war and conflict. In our turbulent world such an exhibit with the scientific and artistic presentation will enlighten the essense of Armenian identity through the Christian monuments and the visuals reflecting them. In 2021 Dr. Mchitarian-Lazaridou was nominated for the ''Women Building Peace'' Award (Institute of Peace, USA).
We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. (St. Paul, 2 Corinthians).
Without darkness there is no light. Such an exhibition is a candle giving light to those who want to know more about the ancient nation in the South Caucasus fighting for survival and creating ''pearls in stones'' which reflect sorrow and hope, love and evil deeds of the enemies, history and personal stories, yesterday and tomorrow....It seems that history of the Armenian people is a prayer for survival. The Christian monuments inspired by Biblical Ararat are the Noah's Ark for the Armenian nation.
All the parties interested in organizing and holding such a photographic exhibit can write to Dr. Mchitarian-Lazaridou. Her contact email: marinamkhitar@gmail.com
Hellenic Republic
May 10-2023
