HRAIR HAWK KHATCHERIAN: PHOTOGRAPHER TALKS ABOUT ARMENIA’S UNREALIZED POTENTIAL ON EVE OF 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF GENOCIDE
16:01, February 18, 2015
By Naira Hayrapetyan
“I was born in Lebanon, but my grandfather was born in Zeytoun, where
he participated in the self-defense struggle. But fighting probably
wasn’t the right thing to do, which is why he ended up in Lebanon,”
photographer Hrair Hawk Khatcherian said.
Many recognize his photography at first glance.
Khatcherian has probably taken more photos of Armenian churches than
any other photographer. He came to Armenia during the Artsakh war
and to this day he continues to reveal and become acquainted with
the Armenian world.
He has published many books of his photography, including Artsakh:
A Photographic Journey (1997),40 Nudes (2001), Karabagh: 100 Photos
for the Independence (2002), Yergir (2005), Armenian Ornamental
Art with Armen Kyurkchyan (2010), Armenian Ornamental Script (2012)
and One Church, One Nation (2013).
Hawk was simply a nickname that he used to sign letters, and it
eventually became a second name shown in his passport. Everyone knows
him today as Hawk. “We’re alike in many ways,” he said. “A hawk has a
good eye, he loves to soar and when he’s hunting he sights his target
very well.”
He was 11 or 12 years old when he first became interested in
photography. The brother of one of his classmates, who was older,
was holding a photo.
“I asked him how he created it and he laughed, ‘You’re out of
your depth. Grow up and maybe you’ll understand something,'” Hawk
explained. “I decided that I’d definitely find out the secret. I bought
a small camera and started shooting my classmates, them playing soccer,
class time, trees, streets. Step by step my snapshots started to have
more meaning.”
The innocent photos were followed by bitter images of the Lebanese
civil war–traces of exploded bombs, people who survived or perished.
Later in the US, when he was learning to become a pilot, he observed
that there was more to the world’s beauty from up above. Later on,
images of Armenia would appear in Hawk’s most beautiful photography
book, taken from the perspective ofa hawk in flight.
“In school I didn’t learn anything about the Armenian language,
history or geography,” Hawk said. “I was only interested in math,
photography and English. My teachers broke a lot of sticks over
my head. I didn’t understand anything they told us about Ani, the
Armenian alphabet and history. It all seemed like a mystery to me until
I found my way. I had to see, touch and feel it. My chosen path was
sort of a way for me to understand myself. Through photography I also
learned about my history, my culture, and I got to know my people,
to love and experience that consciousness.
With 12 photography books already under his belt, Hawk’s latest
work, 100: 1915-2015, is dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the
Armenian Genocide. It describes Armenian culture, history and heritage
though imagery–churches still standing or in ruins, architectural
masterpieces, samples of Armenian manuscripts from all around the
world and various cultural gems.
Hawk’s camera has been all over, capturing and assembling everything
related to Armenians and being Armenian. At the same time, they are
facts that are being erased yearly as a consequence of a policy of
denialism and intolerance. The aim is to clearly inform the reader
about where Armenians were established in a particular century,
what their ancestors were like and what have they become today.
The beautiful imagery of the trilingual book (Armenian, English,
French), thanks to the chosen narrative, leaps off the pages. Hawk said
his intention was to present Armenia’s richness and magnitude from
the perspective of a victorious people. The most recent presentation
of the book was done in Shushi.
Mrav
“I’m doing these photography books for me first of all, and that’s
not being selfish, they are addressed to me,” Hawk said. “At the same
time I’m learning from my own photographs. Second of all they’re being
passed on to my two daughters. Both of them went to Armenian school
and they more or less speak Armenian. I want them to know about their
people and not forget, but rather strengthen their language skills.
Not only that, I’m doing it for every single Armenian youth raised
in the Diaspora and Armenia. The book is printed in three languages
so that it’s accessible to non-Armenians, so it reveals Armenia to
the world. When people from various countries open this book they’ll
discover Armenia, its culture, its manuscripts. There are 2,500 copies
printed, 1,500 of which will be distributed to various universities
and libraries, so that others don’t look upon us as a third-world
country, but as a strong people.
Van
Hawk came to Armenia for the first time in the 1990s. He did all the
things that tourists typically do, like visit Khor Virab, see Ararat
and so forth, camera in hand.
“The country was experiencing tough times, but the trip launched
the beginning of my future in Armenia, coming from the other side
of Ararat,” he said. “So my ties were already made between myself
and Armenia.”
Then he travelled to Artsakh to document the traces of war through
photography, while witnessing the strong spirit of those patriots
willing to give their lives for freedom, the same epic tale he had
only heard about. It left a lasting impression on him. He’s convinced
that in order to love and defend the motherland, you have to see it.
In 1993, as he prepared to leave for Canada, he told his friends
that he would be back in Artsakh soon to continue his work there. But
something unexpected awaited him.
The First Church Service in Akhtamar in 95 Years The Window of Life
“The doctors found I had lung cancer, which had already begun to
spread, and they gave me only 10 days to live,” Hawk said. “The
first thing that came to mind was the kids. I was afraid, wondering
how I was going to leave my girls aged 3 and 4 behind. I was still
responsible for their futures. That sickness made me seriously think
about my whole life. Logically, I was either going to die or battle
it out no matter the cost so I could grow older with my kids. I gave
my oath on a cross in my room that if I were saved, I would photograph
all the Armenian churches throughout the world.”
Hawk lived by his oath and stated the value of his new life’s
expectations, thereby leaving his mark on history.
Artsakh: A Photographic Journey came out in 1997. The book reveals
the history, informationand cultural heritageof the region. The other
books followed and more will be released in the future.
“I’m self-taught,”he said. “We’re living in the age of technology where
photography has become very accessible. Anyone can photograph now,
either by using a camera or a cell phone. Lots of technical issues are
solved immediately. But you know, you need put your mind and spirit
into it so you can pass on what you’ve seen as being important. For
100: 1915-2015, I visited Western Armenia about 30 times, and each
time I went to Akhtamar I saw it in a new light.
During the church service the smoke from the incense and sunlight
entering the church seemed different to my eyes, as if the silence
of so many years began to speak beauty. For many, those photographs
may seem ordinary, but for me they totally show ties to nature,
the world and the universe, especially during prayer.”
St. Gayaneh Monastery
April 23 is Hawk’s birthday. When asked whether he would be in Armenia
for the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, he replied “No.”
He added that he felt what would transpire would be superficial.
“Superficial is a strong word of course, but I’m not saying that
whatever takes place will be so,” Hawk said. “For me at least, the
reason why it will be superficial is because people continue to leave
the country, life in Armenia is still full of difficulties and people
earn such low salaries that they can’t live on their own soil. My hope
is that the youth will return with their knowledge, make things right,
strengthen our country and put conditionsin place so that they’ll
make life just for everyone. For the 100th anniversary this country
should have been so strong so we don’t continue to weep with mournful
faces in front of memorials but instead tell the world how determined,
developed and technologically advanced our country is. I’m trying to
do that with my books. I want people to starting thinking positive,
to instill within them a sense of trust, respect and faith in the
country. I’m not doing this with emotions; I’m showing them what
they have. That still needs to take hold and develop. Everyone has
to start being positive and stop saying that we don’t have anything
in this country.”
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