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Hrair Hawk Khatcherian: Photographer Talks About Armenia's Unrealized Potential on Eve of 100th Anniversary of Genocide
By Naira Hayrapetyan
“I was born in Lebanon, but my grandfather was born in Zeytoun, where he participated in the self-defense struggle. But he probably didn't fight well enough, which is why he ended up in Lebanon,” photographer Hrair Hawk Khatcherian said.
Many recognize his photography at first glance.
Khatcherian has probably taken more photos of Armenian churches than any other photographer. He came to Armenia during the Artsakh war and to this day he continues to reveal and become acquainted with the Armenian world.
He has published many books of his photography, including 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).
Hawk was simply a nickname that he used to sign letters, and it eventually became a second name shown in his passport. Everyone knows him today as Hawk. “We’re alike in many ways,” he said. “A hawk has a good eye, he loves to soar and when he’s hunting he sights his target very well.”
He was 11 or 12 years old when he first became interested in photography. The brother of one of his classmates, who was older, was holding a photo.
“I asked him how he created it and he laughed, ‘You’re out of your depth. Grow up and maybe you’ll understand something,’” Hawk explained. “I decided that I’d definitely find out the secret. I bought a small camera and started shooting my classmates, them playing soccer, class time, trees, streets. Step by step my snapshots started to have more meaning.”
The innocent photos were followed by bitter images of the Lebanese civil war—traces of exploded bombs, people who survived or perished. Later in the US, when he was learning to become a pilot, he observed that there was more to the world’s beauty from up above. Later on, images of Armenia would appear in Hawk’s most beautiful photography book, taken from the perspective ofa hawk in flight.
“In school I didn’t learn anything about the Armenian language, history or geography,” Hawk said. “I was only interested in math, photography and English. My teachers broke a lot of sticks over my head. I didn’t understand anything they told us about Ani, the Armenian alphabet and history. It all seemed like a mystery to me until I found my way. I had to see, touch and feel it. My chosen path was sort of a way for me to understand myself. Through photography I also learned about my history, my culture, and I got to know my people, to love and experience that consciousness.
With 12 photography books already under his belt, Hawk’s latest work, 100: 1915-2015, is dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. It describes Armenian culture, history and heritage though imagery—churches still standing or in ruins, architectural masterpieces, samples of Armenian manuscripts from all around the world and various cultural gems.
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Hawk’s camera has been all over, capturing and assembling everything related to Armenians and being Armenian. At the same time, they are facts that are being erased yearly as a consequence of a policy of denialism and intolerance. The aim is to clearly inform the reader about where Armenians were established in a particular century, what their ancestors were like and what have they become today.
The beautiful imagery of the trilingual book (Armenian, English, French), thanks to the chosen narrative, leaps off the pages. Hawk said his intention was to present Armenia’s richness and magnitude from the perspective of a victorious people. The most recent presentation of the book was done in Shushi.
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“I’m doing these photography books for me first of all, and that’s not being selfish, they are addressed to me,” Hawk said. “At the same time I’m learning from my own photographs. Second of all they’re being passed on to my two daughters. Both of them went to Armenian school and they more or less speak Armenian. I want them to know about their people and not forget, but rather strengthen their language skills. Not only that, I’m doing it for every single Armenian youth raised in the Diaspora and Armenia. The book is printed in three languages so that it’s accessible to non-Armenians, so it reveals Armenia to the world. When people from various countries open this book they’ll discover Armenia, its culture, its manuscripts. There are 2,500 copies printed, 1,500 of which will be distributed to various universities and libraries, so that others don’t look upon us as a third-world country, but as a strong people.
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Hawk came to Armenia for the first time in the 1990s. He did all the things that tourists typically do, like visit Khor Virab, see Ararat and so forth, camera in hand.
“The country was experiencing tough times, but the trip launched the beginning of my future in Armenia, coming from the other side of Ararat,” he said. “So my ties were already made between myself and Armenia.”
Then he travelled to Artsakh to document the traces of war through photography, while witnessing the strong spirit of those patriots willing to give their lives for freedom, the same epic tale he had only heard about. It left a lasting impression on him. He’s convinced that in order to love and defend the motherland, you have to see it. In 1993, as he prepared to leave for Canada, he told his friends that he would be back in Artsakh soon to continue his work there. But something unexpected awaited him.
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The First Church Service in Akhtamar in 95 Years The Window of Life |
“The doctors found I had lung cancer, which had already begun to spread, and they gave me only 10 days to live,” Hawk said. “The first thing that came to mind was the kids. I was afraid, wondering how I was going to leave my girls aged 3 and 4 behind. I was still responsible for their futures. That sickness made me seriously think about my whole life. Logically, I was either going to die or battle it out no matter the cost so I could grow older with my kids. I gave my oath on a cross in my room that if I were saved, I would photograph all the Armenian churches throughout the world.”
Hawk lived by his oath and stated the value of his new life’s expectations, thereby leaving his mark on history.
Artsakh: A Photographic Journey came out in 1997. The book reveals the history, informationand cultural heritageof the region. The other books followed and more will be released in the future.
“I’m self-taught,”he said. “We’re living in the age of technology where photography has become very accessible. Anyone can photograph now, either by using a camera or a cell phone. Lots of technical issues are solved immediately. But you know, you need put your mind and spirit into it so you can pass on what you’ve seen as being important. For 100: 1915-2015, I visited Western Armenia about 30 times, and each time I went to Akhtamar I saw it in a new light. During the church service the smoke from the incense and sunlight entering the church seemed different to my eyes, as if the silence of so many years began to speak beauty. For many, those photographs may seem ordinary, but for me they totally show ties to nature, the world and the universe, especially during prayer.”
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April 23 is Hawk’s birthday. When asked whether he would be in Armenia for the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, he replied “No.” He added that he felt what would transpire would be superficial.
“Superficial is a strong word of course, but I’m not saying that whatever takes place will be so,” Hawk said. “For me at least, the reason why it will be superficial is because people continue to leave the country, life in Armenia is still full of difficulties and people earn such low salaries that they can’t live on their own soil. My hope is that the youth will return with their knowledge, make things right, strengthen our country and put conditionsin place so that they’ll make life just for everyone. For the 100th anniversary this country should have been so strong so we don’t continue to weep with mournful faces in front of memorials but instead tell the world how determined, developed and technologically advanced our country is. I’m trying to do that with my books. I want people to starting thinking positive, to instill within them a sense of trust, respect and faith in the country. I’m not doing this with emotions; I’m showing them what they have. That still needs to take hold and develop. Everyone has to start being positive and stop saying that we don’t have anything in this country.”
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