mOther Armenia : Group Exhibition of Ten Women Photographers

Mother Armenia (Armenian: Մայր Հայաստան Mayr Hayastan) is a female personification of Armenia. Her most public visual rendering is a monumental statue in Victory Park overlooking the capital city of Yerevan, Armenia.

Armenia –

Group exhibit with the participation of ten women photographers organized by 4 Plus Documentary Photography Center in Armenia.

Armenian Center for Contemporary Experimental Art in Yerevan – Opening reception July 3rd, 2013 – 5 p.m.

For the first time in the history of Armenia, ten women photographers unite their vision to present Armenia as they see it now and to exhibit in a group show supported by the Open Society Foundations.

© Anush Babajanyan

“I had the privilege to curate this exhibit and was allowed to enter their world of mothers, professionals and social activists,” said Svetlana Bachevanova curator of the mOther Armenia exhibit.

“Women in Armenia still battle to establish a career. Women are still expected to be full time mothers and housekeepers. But these ten documentarians broke the rules and found a way to pursue careers and create powerful bodies of work.”

© Hasmik Hayrapetyan

The photographers include: Mery Aghakhanyan, Sara Anjargolian, Nazik Armenakyan, Anush Babajanyan, Knar Babayan, Anahit Hayrapetyan, Hasmik Hayrapetyan, Piruza Khalapyan, Inna Mkhitaryan and Nelli Shishmanyan.

© Nazik Armenakyan

The work in this exhibit tells intimate stories of Armenian life from the perspective of women, revealing aspects of Armenia often ignored. From stark black and white photographs of people with disabilities overcoming obstacles, to rich portraits of non-conformists, and intimate images of transgenders struggling with finding a place in society, these woman photographers address social injustice and the role of women in modern Armenia.