HRAIR HAWK’S NEW BOOK DOCUMENTS RICH ARMENIAN HERITAGE IN TURKEY AND WORLDWIDE
12:08 06/03/2015 >> SOCIETY
Panorama.am presents an interview with renowned Canadian-Armenian
photographer Hrair Hawk Khatcherian on his recently published 516-page
photography book 100: 1915-2015 dedicated to the centennial of the
Armenian Genocide. The book presents the riches of the Armenian
cultural and historical heritage through photographs taken in more
than 40 countries within 17 years. It also demonstrates the ongoing
destruction of Armenian churches in Western Armenia (presently occupied
by Turkey).
Nvard Chalikyan: Your photography book titled 100: 1915-2015 presents
extensive documented evidence of the Armenian presence and rich
cultural heritage all over the world, including Western Armenia. What
is the main message that your book delivers to Armenian as well as
non-Armenian readers?
Hrair Hawk: For almost four thousand years Armenians have lived in
and around present day Republic of Armenia, surviving invasions by
armies travelling Eastbound or Westbound, and my message is simple,
that of a nation who has and still is living against all odds.
N.C.: You note that your book begins by victorious pages and shows
the wealth of Armenia instead of focusing on tragedy. Can you say
more about this?
H.H.: My book starts with majestic biblical Mount Ararat where the
arch of Noah rested; on the foothills of the mountain Armenians built
the church of Sourp Hagop, which was destroyed in an earthquake – only
the khatchkars have survived till today. This is followed by the coins
of past Armenian kings starting by Tigranes II (95-55 BC) and by the
Armenian, Greek and Persian gods of Mount Nemrut. It then portrays
Armenians as the first nation who adopted Christianity in the year
301 and built thousands of churches in every corner of ancient Armenia.
The book also includes photographs of magnificent manuscripts, costumes
and artefacts following the creation of the Armenian Alphabet in the
5th century.
N.C.: How many photographs of Western Armenian sites are included in
your book? What century does the photograph of the oldest Armenian
coins and churches in your book date back to?
H.H.: The book includes well over 1000 photographs. The coins date
back 2000 years and the churches to the 4th and 5th century in the
region of Van.
N.C.: While working on this book you visited Western Armenia 30 times
throughout 17 years! What can you say about the changes, particularly
about level of destruction and plunder of the Armenian monuments that
you have observed throughout these years?
H.H.: During the first trips we were always followed by secret police
and rocks were hurled at our vehicles… all this has changed and
nowadays we are met with friendlier people, however the destruction has
been ongoing. Especially in the seventies major Armenian pilgrimage
sites were destroyed like Sourp Garabed and Sourp Arakelots of Moosh
and Khdzgonk, also the monastery of Nareg near Van is completely
destroyed. Gold diggers still dig inside and around the churches
looking for gold, thus weakening the structure, and nature finishes
off what humans have started. Thousands of holy sites were desecrated
and houses were demolished, entire villages were wiped out.
For example at Kharpert (Harput) an old photograph shows packed
Armenian houses and in the same location today we notice no dwellings
but trees instead. On the other hand in the recent years many Armenian
churches were renovated by the Turkish government under pressure from
the European Union and the United States.
N.C.: What is their current state? Are many of them being destroyed
at this moment in present-day Turkey?
H.H.: Many Armenian graveyards are destroyed, not only Christian but
also Seljuk ones – gold diggers believe they are wealth to be unearthed
and no sacred site is spared. At present time the destruction goes
on but has slowed down.
N.C.: Did you witness such destruction of Armenian heritage in other
countries you have visited?
H.H.: In Syria I have photographed the Armenian churches and due
to the civil war which is raging till now many of the photographs I
have taken have historical value, as ISIS has demolished many of them;
same atrocities are happening in Iraq and Egypt. In Iran some Armenian
churches have been damaged by time as the Armenian population relocates
in other countries. In Georgia the locals are defacing the Armenian
churches and replacing them with Georgian inscriptions. In the USA
many small communities unable to support the church are forced to
sell them. In Armenia many historical monasteries are abandoned and
require immediate attention and care.
N.C.: What steps, if any, do you think can be taken to prevent further
destruction of Armenian cultural heritage in Western Armenia?
H.H.: Some Armenian churches are used as storage by the locals
in Turkey and in a way this prevents the building from collapsing
altogether; restoration is not always the solution if the church will
not be used. The Armenian Diaspora is building new churches wherever
the community is thriving… In rare occasions like Sourp Giragos of
Diyarbekir the Diaspora participated in the cost of rebuilding and it
is taken care of by local Armenians. Time and nature are destroying
the abandoned churches.
N.C.: How do you think your book can contribute to the actual campaign
of Armenian Genocide reparations?
H.H.: While working on my book I travelled to Venice, Italy and Vienna
to the Mekhitarist brotherhood and photographed Armenian manuscripts
and artefacts as well as costumes kept in their museums that had
been rescued from the Genocide. I have photographed manuscripts
at the Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia in Lebanon, the Armenian
Patriarchate of Jerusalem, the Armenian Patriarchate of Istanbul, at
Matenadaran in Armenia, at the history museum of Armenia, as well as
at the Armenian Library and Museum of America (ALMA) in Boston – all
these are solid proof of the richness of the Armenian nation and thanks
to these rescued relics we have proof about the existence of Armenians
throughout history and throughout what is today Turkish territory.
Each photographed manuscript, each photographed artefact has the town
and dates marked, thus the proof of Armenian existence in Turkey then,
from 2000 years ago up till today.
N.C.: What response has your book received so far?
H.H.: This book is enlightening to everyone, and the positive energy
can be seen in every page.
N.C.: Two of other photographic books you have published document the
Armenian cultural heritage in Artsakh (Artsakh: A photographic journey
(1997), Karabagh: 100 Photos (2002)). Did you cover the territory
of the whole NKR, including the liberated territories? What can you
single out in terms of the Armenian historical presence there?
H.H.: Yes I have travelled inside Artsakh and the liberated territories
and photographed churches and khatchkars. Three monasteries there
stand out as jewels of Armenian architecture – Gandzasar, Dadivank
and Dzidzernavank – all are exquisite, few monasteries and churches
have survived invasions, same for khatchkars.
N.C.: Where can those who want to purchase your book “100” obtain it?
H.H.: In about two months my books will be ready for shipping and
they can contact me in person by email [email protected].
Hrair Hawk Khatcherian was born in Lebanon; his grandfather was a
Genocide survivor born in Zeytoun. Hrair came to Armenia first time
in 1992 during the Artsakh (Karabakh) war and inspired by the courage
of his fellow Armenians fighting for independence, he shortly took
to photographing the rich Armenian heritage in Karabagh, in Republic
of Armenia as well as in Western Armenia and later in different parts
of the world. Hrair continues this mission till today and has perhaps
taken more photos of Armenian churches than any other photographer.
Hrair Hawk has published 12 photography books, among them 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). For almost three decades now Hawk has
been presenting exhibitions, conferences, photographic lectures all
around the globe. His photographs have appeared in numerous magazines,
newspapers, books and publications.
By Nvard Chalikyan