Ararat
Driving my van through Caucasus, Persia and Central Asia for one year...
[En]
Two months since I left France, 40 days of which I spent in Armenia.
I’m rarely accompanied by anyone, especially not by photographers. But I was pleased and lucky to experience part of this trip with my good friend Greg Mirzoyan (co-director of the film Bajay). He’s the one responsible for the “backstage” side of my work, since he had fun taking pictures of me for about three weeks – a time during which we drove for hundreds of kilometers. Discovering Armenia turned out to be an amazing part of my research. I won’t say anything else to let the images speak. I will keep the best ones for my book of course, and these are just here to give you an idea of what’s to come.
Thanks to all the people I’ve met along the way, and special thanks to Serguei and his family, Alex, Arsen and his team.
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[Fr]
Plus de 2 mois de voyage depuis la France, dont 40 jours en Arménie.
Rares sont les moments où je suis accompagné, encore moins d’un photographe. Mais c’est avec chance et plaisir que j’ai partagé ma route avec mon ami Greg Mirzoyan (co-réalisateur du film Bajay) C’est lui qui apporte le côté "backstage" de mon travail puisqu’il s’est amusé à me photographier durant près de 3 semaines. Intenses ont été les kilomètres parcourus pendant tout ce temps. La découverte de l’Arménie à été un vrai bouleversement dans mes recherches. Je n’en dis pas plus et laisse les images parler à ma place. Je garde bien sûr les meilleures pour mon prochain livre mais cela vous donnera une idée de ce que j’ai pu voir.
Merci à toutes les rencontres que j’ai pu faire sur place. En particulier à Sergei et sa famille, Alex, Arsen et son équipe.
Sevan Lake with Greg Mirzoyan | ARMENIA
Sevan Lake | ARMENIA
Sevan Lake | ARMENIA
Sevan Lake | ARMENIA
So far so good | ARMENIA (photo by Greg Mirzoyan)
my little yard | ARMENIA
Gyumri Bazar | ARMENIA
Gyumri | ARMENIA
So far so good | ARMENIA (photo by Greg Mirzoyan)
So far so good | ARMENIA (photo by Greg Mirzoyan)
Khor Virap is an Armenian Apostolic Church monastery located in the Ararat valley in Armenia, 8 kilometers near the border with Turkey | ARMENIA
Khor Virap's notability as a monastery and pilgrimage site is attributed to the fact that Grigor Lusavorich, who later became Saint Gregory the Illuminator, was initially imprisoned here for 13 years by King Tiridates III | ARMENIA
Khor Virap | ARMENIA
Armenian writing
Noravank is a 13th-century monastery. In this time the monastery became a residence of Syunik's bishops and, consequently. a major religious and, later, cultural center of Armenia closely connected with many of the local seats of learning | ARMENIA
Armenian brunch
On the road to Tatev
Front of Tatev monastery | ARMENIA (photo by Greg Mirzoyan)
Tatev is a 9th-century monastery located on a large basalt plateau in southeastern of Armenia. The term "Tatev" usually refers to the monastery. The monastic ensemble stands on the edge of a deep gorge of the Vorotan River
Tatev is known as the bishopric seat of Syunik and played a significant role in the history of the region as a center of economic, political, spiritual and cultural activity.
Tatev monastery | ARMENIA
Agdam is a ghost town. In July 1993, after heavy fighting, Agdam was captured by the forces of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic. As the town fell, its entire population were forced to flee eastwards. In the immediate aftermath of the fighting, the Armenian forces decided to destroy much of Agdam to prevent its recapture by Azerbaijan. More damage occurred in the following decades when the deserted town was looted for building materials. Agdam is currently a ruinous, uninhabited ghost town | ARMENIA
Karabagh's smiles
Bastulma x Salad x Sevan lake | ARMENIA
Sevan Lake restaurant | ARMENIA
Noratus cemetery is a medieval cemetery with a large number of early khachkars (armenian cross-stones) | ARMENIA
Noratus cemetery has the largest cluster of khachkars in the republic of Armenia. It is currently the largest surviving cemetery with khachkars following the destruction of the khachkars in Old Julfa by the government of Azerbaijan | ARMENIA
Hayravank Monastery | ARMENIA
Hayravank Monastery | ARMENIA
Priest of Geghard Monastery | ARMENIA
The monastery of Geghard is a unique architectural construction in the Kotayk province of Armenia, being partially carved out of the adjacent mountain, surrounded by cliffs. It is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Geghard Monastery | ARMENIA
Armenian old woman
Geghard Monastery | While the main chapel was built in 1215, the monastery complex was founded in the 4th century by Gregory the Illuminator at the site of a sacred spring inside a cave | ARMENIA
From Armenia with love... Thank you Babou !
Mount Ararat in Judeo-Christian tradition is associated with the "Mountains of Ararat" where, according to the book of Genesis, Noah's ark came to rest. It also plays a significant role in Armenian culture and nationalism. The mountain can be seen on the coat of arms of Armenia.