‘Our Country Is Unbelievably Beautiful From Above’

AZG Armenian Daily #186, 15/10/2005

People

‘OUR COUNTRY IS UNBELIEVABLY BEAUTIFUL FROM ABOVE’

Photographer Hrayr Baze

Hrayr Baze, Canadian Armenian photographer, began visiting Armenia since
1992. He made pictures dedicated to Armenia, Artsakh and Western Armenia
since 1995. Afterwards, these photos became albums picturing the native land
and the cultural monuments of Armenia. This year, Hrayr Baze represented two
albums “The Land ” and “Hovering Falcon.”

“The Land” photo album includes 460 photos and represents almost all the
regions of the Western Armenia.

Recently, the photographer represented “Hovering Falcon” that includes
images of Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh. It’s worth mentioning that almost
all the photos were taken from aboard of a helicopter. “Our country is
unbelievably beautiful from above,” Hrayr Baze said. The photos were
accumulated since 1995. Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh are represented in one
book. “The motherland can’t be separated with borders.”

The photographer who is also a good pilot told about his impressions when
flying on helicopter. One of the landscapes reminded him of the picture by
Arshile Gorky he saw in New York and he called the photo “Arshile Gorky.”
When flying above that place I felt as if I am flying above one of Arshile
Gorky’s canvases I saw in New York,” he said.

The author said that some of the photos taken in 1995 were not included in
“Hovering Falcon” album. For example he replaced the photo of Dadivank made
in 1995 with a new one that pictured the reconstructed church. Hakob
Hakobian, artist, said that very few people can see their mother land from
above, while this initiative of Hrayr Baze gives this opportunity to many.

It’s worth mentioning that the photographer also took photos of Armenian
churches and historical monuments spread in 43 countries of the world. This
collection of photos is envisaged for a new album.

By Gohar Gevorgian