Armenia between the West and the Past

This is a short project exploring Armenia caught in-between—somewhere between its layered past (a blend of Soviet, pre-Soviet, and deeply Armenian influences) and the strong pull of the West, often filtered through bold reinterpretations of Western values by the diaspora.

Old buildings stand juxtaposed with shiny new Teslas and Mercedes parked out front. Traditional fruit and vegetable markets unfold under Coca-Cola-branded tents. People dressed in Amazon-bought branded clothes navigate the worn, lived-in surroundings of their neighborhoods. Tourists from the U.S., Europe, and East Asia, with their well-fed faces, contrast sharply with the tough but dignified reality of local life. While massive funds pour into constructing new apartment buildings, the old ones remain untouched—left to decay, crumbling away brick by brick.

Everything here, every day, feels suspended in-between. And above it all, the eternal Ararat watches, a silent keeper.

Thick-bordered stickers were chosen as an artistic tool to highlight the objects that captured my attention.

— This project was created for J-J Kissling's web gallery.

— Huuuge thanks to Marfa Razmakhova for the huuuge help with editing!