Berd, Tavoush Region, Republic of Armenia © Onnik Krikorian / Hetq Online 2006

After already posting an entry about my Hetq Online photo exhibition, Christina has since been to see the show, so to speak, and posted more. There was some TV and newspaper coverage of the event, but this is the only thing on a blog, so thanks for that Christina. Don’t know much about her apart from the fact that she works for some high-brow think-tank, but anyway. As usual, Nessuna again provides the translation even if this time round Notes from the Armenian Language Blogosphere has been posted by little old me.

Onnik Krikorian’s Photo Exhibition — A Summary

Yesterday I finally managed to see Onnik’s photos. Because those were photos taken as a result of working with Hetq, I already had certain expectations in mind. I expected them to have something to say, and the whole series to be totally diferent from the usual “art for art’s sake” ideology. Simply loving photography, but never even coming close to being an expert, it’s hard for me to talk about light, shadow, background and other professional stuff, but the photos were VERY GOOD. Without any adornment and unneccesary emotionality they showed those parts of our life which we usually push aside, hoping inside that maybe one of us will have more courage to not ignore them.

However, in order to make that impression more powerful and to make people act, I think that maybe the photos could have been introduced a bit differently, because in my opinion, their purpose was to create a tangible change in the area of social activity, and not on the planes of knowledge or emotions. I think that these photos needed a bigger, almost life-size format as well as a bigger hall, where “you feel small,” but that you can “grow” if you are more attentive towards the silence staring at you from the walls, not demanding anything…

Point taken about how the photos were presented, and I said the same to Zarchka literally minutes before the opening event. Unfortunately, proper exhibitions are not cheap to stage, and nor is the important of presentation understood by most Armenians. Factor in a very limited budget and the lack of photo printing above the size of 30x40cm and yes, it’s not how it should be. I totally agree with you, but we did what we could.

Hopefully, with better preparation, your feedback in mind, and a bigger budget, it will be next time, but anyway, the exhibition should still be on at Yerevan’s Naregatsi Institute until 1 August. Anyway. thanks for posting about the exhibition, Christina. Your comments and constuctive criticism are both welcomed and appreciated.

Christina’s original post in Armenian is here.