Ara Oshakan, `I Learned Photographing in Karabakh’.
Friday, 19 October 2012 11:25
Armenian photographer from America Ara Oshakan, who is from Beirut by
birth, was in Artsakh within the framework of `Shushi Art Project’
festival. In his interview to Karabakh-open. info the grandchild of
famous Diaspora Armenian writer Hakob Oshakan explained how he, a
descendant of a writers’ family, took up photography.
– You are a descendant of the Oshakans’ famous family, how did you
happen to choose photography.
– My grandfather was a novelist, my father also became a writer but I
think as he also wrote in Armenian he became a poet in order to be
different from my grandfather. I also decided to continue my
grandfather’s and father’s work but in order to differ from them in
some way I began to write in English. I was born in Beirut but later
my family moved to such USA cities where there were few Armenians or
no Armenians at all, so my English is much better developed than my
Armenian. I had been writing for a long time and had quite successful
works, I just could not possibly finish any of them. Then I happened
to engage in photography, it occurred to me to write short reviews and
attach corresponding photos to them. I applied to some of my friends
but I did not like the photos they took. And I acted like a real
Armenian, I began to photograph myself. I thought there was nothing
difficult in photography, I could easily do it myself. And little by
little I learned it. I took two lessons of photography, both of them
quite unsuccessful, later I learned everything myself.
Gradually I understood that photography was dearer to me and better
corresponded to my temper. The fact that I am always in action and
constantly communicate with people makes me pleased. A writer’s life
is specified, you have to sit at work for 6 hours to write something
valuable, that was not for me.
All in all, not the means of doing the work but the work itself is
important. It took me years to understand this simple truth.
– What was your first photo project?
– In 1998 I took up photography and in 1999 I decided to come to
Karabakh with my father to take some photos. During those years my
father taught at Artsakh State University and we decided to compile a
book together. After our visit I began to come to Karabakh quite
frequently and here I developed `my eye of a photographer’. After our
first visit with my father we again came to Karabakh together the next
September and stayed here for three weeks. When we returned to America
the text for my book was ready.
My father suffered a heart disease and in 2000, being unable to stand
the operation, he died. I had enough photos and with the text my
father had written I could already publish the book. But I was a
beginner, my work was not completed yet, it should have deepened and
expanded. I decided to return to Karabakh. Thus until 2007 I
occasionally came to Karabakh, visited different villages and took
photos.
In 2010 I found a publisher in New York who was interested in my book
and soon published it with my photos and the Armenian and English
variants of my father’s text under the headline `Fatherland’.
– Will you tell us a bit about the book `Fatherland’?
– The given photos represent documentary photography. I photographed
the process of life such as situations, places, human relations. In
these photos I tried to show the place and the people’s way of living.
This composition is very important for me. In some way my life is a
part of this book.
– Besides the `Fatherland’ what other projects have you had so far?
– In parallel I carried out a project connected with the Armenians of
Los Angeles that is directly related to me and the identity of the
Armenian Diaspora. Besides I photographed juveniles in one of the
American prisons and presented their reviews and biographies attached
to these photos. Another project is being prepared now. There is a
village near Los Angeles, I visit the local inhabitants there and take
photos of them. Besides, within the framework of `Shoushi art project’
I made a photo-installation for the first time that I had never done
before. Though I thought a lot and spent many sleepless nights but the
result was a success. Probably I will continue doing such
installations.
– Where were your works shown, were they private exhibitions?
– The `Fatherland’ was presented in a private exhibition in Los
Angeles and in New York. The other works were exhibited only in Los
Angeles. I was in Yerevan this summer and I decided to exhibit it in
Armenia as well, and then I am going to bring it to Stepanakert or to
Shoushi.
It is very important for me to return the work where it was
photographed and not just to come and take photos like a tourist and
then to enjoy and exhibit it abroad.
– How profitable is the photographer’s work?
– I am a physicist by profession and up to now I continue working for
private companies and earn my family’s living in this way, some part
of this money I invest into my favourite occupation. In parallel I
conduct classes for young photographers.
– For the first time you visited Artsakh during the post-war years,
after that you frequently came to Artsakh, I wonder what changes have
you noticed?
– In Diaspora we knew little of Karabakh but when the movement began
we all went out into the streets with claims «Karabakh is ours». When
Gorbachov came to San Francisco we all organized an action of
complaint. My father also told me about his visits to Karabakh but I
tried not to get under the influence of impressions, I decided to come
and to see everything with my own eyes. In December, 1999, I paid my
first visit to Artsakh. First I was shocked at what I saw, there were
destroyed buildings everywhere. I had seen nothing like that in
America. In order to understand people better I began to seek
similarities more than differences.
During each of my visits Artsakh was changed, the ruined buildings
were reconstructed, today there are hardly any of these buildings. But
as for the people’s welfare I think little has changed.
Interviewer Qnar Babayan
http://karabakh-open.info/en/interviewen/2126-en445