He has authored andor edited more than 20 books and catalogues on art. The sarkissian family name was found in the usa, and canada between 1911 and 1920. Records may include photos, original documents, family history, relatives, specific dates, locations and full names. The theme of absence is further investigated in relation to religion, for which the identity of one merges in that of an entire community of prayers aspiring to elevate their souls to god.
A photograph of aleppo from hrair sarkissian s series execution squares 2008. In one shot, we see three palm trees sprouting from a median dividing a wide cobblestone avenue. The most sarkissian families were found in the usa in 1920. After having been declared extinct from the wild in 1989, in 2002 a surviving colony of seven was discovered in the syrian desert near palmyra with help from the local bedouin population. His photographic series execution squares is part of the permanent collection of the tate modern in london, where it is. Shot by drone across a perilous expanse, hrair sarkissian s twochannel video installation, horizon 2016, charts one of the shortest and most common refugee routes from kas on the. Free frozenconflict thursday19march,7pm paneldiscussionontheissues facing nagornokarabakh,with marinanagai, drhratchtchilingirian anddennissammut,chairedby andrewjack, ftjournaiist in. The disappearance of portraiture as an art form can be felt the world over.
Meticulous drawings of the patterns and images done by armen kyurkchyan are accompanied by original photographs by hrair hawk khatcherian. Harrison, hagop sarkissian, and eric schwitzgebel forthcoming, columbia university press the idea that the self is inextricably intertwined with the rest of the worldthe oneness hypothesiscan be found in many of the worlds philosophical and religious traditions. They register the paradox experienced by this syrian artist of armenian origin of returning to a land which he had only known from family stories, as the reality. Sarkissians own history is closely tied to these books and files, as his. Like many of their generation, they have until now refused to leave syria. This book has been produced through the public support it gained from its selection to be showcased on the first art basel crowdfunding initiative in partnership with kickstarter. Part of promised land, this is the first of two events to provide a vital platform for artists, intellectuals and experts to address current shifts within european politics and to raise urgent debate on the challenges, responsibilities. Renowned canadianarmenian photographer hrair hawk khacherian.
In hrair sarkissians work, landscape and the urban environment. In 2010 he completed a bfa in photography at the gerrit rietveld academie, amsterdam. Frequently produced with a large format camera, his carefully crafted photographs enable a deeper engagement with a scene, allowing a slow unfolding of revelatory details, conjuring up elided histories and forgotten places. Hrair sarkissian has turned his attention to a controversial topic in turkey. Later on that year, he also published flying hye, which provides a birds eye view of armenia. Oct 19, 2016 chaired by bernadette buckley, speakers include hrair sarkissian, jonas staal and frances stonor saunders. His encounter with cancer led him to become a stronger person and inspire many others. The mosaic rooms are pleased to present the first uk solo exhibition by hrair sarkissian, featuring new video and previously unseen photographic work that reflect on concepts of place, conflict, and future. Aug 22, 20 hrair sarkissian s execution squares 2008 were taken in three different cities damascus, aleppo and lattakia in places where public executions have taken place, for civil rather than political crimes. Syria, belonging not longing syrian artist hrair sarkissian discusses his art in conjunction with his first major solo exhibition in the united states, focus. Sarkissiansfirst book, background, will belaunchedatthisevent. Hrair sarkissian and omar kholeif in conversation, for focus.
Final flight horizon last scene homesick background transparencies unexposed istory stand still sarkissian photo centre. The exhibition, currently on show at the mosaic rooms, brings together previously unseen photographs and new video work. Dor guez, aram jibilian, david low, rehan miscki, hrair sarkissian, garine torossian, akram zaatari, unknown photographer curator. Marseille 20 hrair sarkissian the eye of photography. Hrair sarkissian, born in damascus and currently living in london and the hague, earned a bfa in photography at the gerrit rietveld academie, amsterdam, in 2010. Alexander sarkissian born april 3, 1990 is an american professional tennis player of armenian descent. Malis beloved photography biennial returns in the wake of political turmoil. Background is a series of photographs documenting studio backgrounds and settings in six cities in the middle east. Witnessing syrias public executions hrair sarkissian. Born and raised in damascus, syria, he earned his foundational training at his fathers photographic studio, where he spent all his childhood vacations and where he worked fulltime for twelve years after high school.
Hrair sarkissian s execution squares comprises a series of photographs depicting the sites of public executions in syria, the artists country of birth. This was about 19% of all the recorded sarkissian s in the usa. Hrair sarkissian uses photography to reevaluate historical, religious or sociopolitical narratives. In 2010, he completed a bfa in photography at the gerrit rietveld academie in amsterdam. Sarkissians practice typically explores one theme or place through an extended body of work. During this time he assisted several european photographers doing projects in syria, who introduced him to contemporary photography. Hrair sarkissian is a photographer born and raised in damascus. Caracashian, dor gues, aram jibilian, gabriel lekegian, ottoman gendarmerie, hrair sarkissian, garine torossian, garo varjabedian, and akram zaatari the book is forthcoming in 2020.
Mar 14, 2015 hrair sarkissian will discuss the works featured in his first solo uk exhibition, imagined futures, with tate moderns curator, shoair mavlian. Often found in the introductory chapters of history books of the unofficial variety, and. Joined in conversation by robert leckie, curator at gasworks. Erzahlung translation from german into english pons. Hrair sarkissian, zebiba, 2007, archival inkjet print, 60 x 60 cm. Photographs revisit the places terminally ill patients. Amman, beirut, byblos, istanbul, cairo and alexandria. New york had the highest population of sarkissian families in 1920. The official historical narrative around this period in the ottoman empire, as presented since the collapse and transformation into the republic of turkey, is a subject of increasing debate within the republic of turkey. Hrair sarkissian historical records and family trees related to hrair sarkissian. Professor of armenian studies at the university of geneva. Armenian diaspora artist hrair sarkissian on view at. The northern bald ibis is one of the rarest birds in the world.
In recent years, some have reconverted to christianity and asked to change their names, out of love. This book presents armenian ornamental art with all its diversity. Hrair sarkissian s in between 2007 is a series of largescale photographs of austere sovietstyle buildings left abandoned in the dramatic hills and valleys of rural armenia. Hrair sarkissians work is often based on his personal relationships to geographies and people. Ararat and the story of noahs ark, the book reflects the rise and fall of armenian kingdoms, the establishment and ebbing of armenian communities in armenia and in. Hrair sarkissians bestknown work to date is a series of large color photographs depicting empty streets in early morning light. Dec 17, 2015 100 19152015 book includes more than 1,000 photographs and is a visual record of the rich armenian cultural heritage that has survived and flourished. At the age of 12, hrair stumbled across three hanging bodies in a public square one morning. Arthur sarkissian paperback january 1, 20 by arthur sarkissian illustrator see all formats and editions hide other formats and editions. Homesick, 2014, video stills, hrair sarkissian front line.
An unsolicited proposal program winning exhibition. This book has been produced thanks to the support it gained from its showcase through the first art basel crowdfunding initiative in partnership with kickstarter. Artist hrair sarkissiandiscusses hisworkandtheexhibition with shoairmavlian, tatemodern. Hrair sarkissian presents a series of photographic works made in armenia, syria. The mosaic rooms, kensington, tackle conflict with the first solo show by syrianarmenian artist hrair sarkissian. Sarkissian s series of 47 photographs are called last scene, and. Alexandria, amman, beirut, byblos, cairo and istanbul. As a young teenager on his way to school, syrian photographer hrair sarkissian witnessed a public execution in damascus. View the profiles of people named hrair sarkissian. Darat al funun presents alive in the dead sea 19952015, the second exhibition exploring the history of art in the region, the relationship between art and political and historical transformations, and the dialogue between art and literature, music, and cinema, through the artworks of the khalid shoman collection. Sarkissian grew up in this building, and lived there until he left syria in 2008. Hrag vartanian one of the most important images in 20thcentury american art is arshile gorkys artist and his mother, a series that brought biography, history, and mythmaking into the mainstream of. Image courtesy the artist and fondazione carispezia.
Independend curator, cofounder ofblind date project, new york. Sarkissian s own history is closely tied to these books and files, as his grandparents were forced to flee from eastern anatolia to syria in 1915. In this work, sarkissian examines the history of the endangered northern bald ibis. Hrair sarkissian, who was born in damascus in 1973 and who now lives in the. The brokering indeed, the negotiation of time and space in relation to the violent and conflicted recent histories of syria is what underpins armeniansyrian artist hrair sarkissians twochannel video installation, homesick. In 1920 there were 4 sarkissian families living in new york. Hrair sarkissian, istory, 2011, courtesy of the artist and kalfayan galleries. Tuesday evenings at the modern hrair sarkissian youtube. Hrair sarkissian on execution squares tateshots tate. Hrair sarkissian historical records and family trees. Jan 01, 2010 the book presents a collection of armenian ornamental art from the medieval age a powerful expression of our national identity.
Hrair sarkssian, winner of the abraaj group art prize 20, has exhibited internationally and his works are in major museum collections and art institutions worldwide. Explore books by hrair sarkissian with our selection at. Hrair hawk khatcherian was as close to death as anybody could be. On july 1, 2011, in the neighborhood of karam shami in homs, syria, a young man stands on the rooftop of a building. Join facebook to connect with hrair sarkissian and others you may know. Reflecting on the disappearing tradition of studio portraiture in the middle east, this important publication features hrair sarkissian s photographs of empty, staged studio backdrops across six middle eastern cities. Sarkissians own history is closely tied to these books and files, as his grandparents were forced to flee from eastern anatolia to syria in 1915.
He trained and worked for twelve years at his fathers photographic studio. In homesick 2014 hrair sarkissian recreated and destroyed an architecturally exact scaled model of the apartment building in damascus where his parents are still living. History get youtube premium get youtube tv best of youtube music sports gaming movies tv shows news live fashion. A series of photographs depicting the sites of public executions in syria, the artists birth country. May 24, 2009 yergir, a book about western armenia, was published in 2005.
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