http://www.saraanjargolian.com/thousand-yard-stare daily 0.75 2013-11-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1379677094256-IUC11RC3F3AG3NBHUZVG/stare+white.jpg Thousand Yard Stare https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1379677094256-IUC11RC3F3AG3NBHUZVG/stare+white.jpg Thousand Yard Stare https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1378894873772-8QKGIL8I8T2UB9X3B5CR/Copyright+Sara+Anjargolian-1.jpg Thousand Yard Stare Arman, a young conscript from Voskevaz village, watches the Azerbaijani frontline located 30 meters from his lookout post on the Mataghis frontline, Nagorno-Karbakh. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1378894861297-YZLCK1GYOE642OR9CPC8/Copyright+Sara+Anjargolian-2.jpg Thousand Yard Stare Trenches at the Mataghis frontline. During the Karabakh war (1988-94) this area was nicknamed "whore's fishnet stockings" referencing the multitude of holes caused by heavy shelling. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1378894884216-4RMOAHKANPHR2JWWQBLJ/Copyright+Sara+Anjargolian-3.jpg Thousand Yard Stare Soldiers at the Mataghis frontline serve in shifts of 14 days on the frontline and 14 days at the military base during their two years of mandatory service. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1378894892805-86XRQ7WXHM1544NQ174D/Copyright+Sara+Anjargolian-4.jpg Thousand Yard Stare Commander Artur Mgrchyan rests in his dugout. He has been serving at the Mataghis frontline in Nagorno-Karabakh for the last 5 years. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1378894897383-O1K0PE2M4KK8YXYABEXL/Copyright+Sara+Anjargolian-5.jpg Thousand Yard Stare Conscripts at the controversial Yeghnikner military base in Nagorno-Karabakh where instances of physical abuse and non-combat deaths have marred the bases' reputation. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1378894888273-H2699GCLO9JC730RFSR2/Copyright+Sara+Anjargolian-6.jpg Thousand Yard Stare Conscripts during a missile launching exersize in Southern Nagorno Karabakh. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1378894900938-TAJO5T0ABXPXP9N0EMQY/Copyright+Sara+Anjargolian-7.jpg Thousand Yard Stare A soldier staffs a communications point at the Mataghis frontline, near Martakert, Nagorno-Karabakh. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1378894902032-BAEY8X9ZHMOT5J49G6AY/Copyright+Sara+Anjargolian-8.jpg Thousand Yard Stare "130 days left" scribbled on the wall on the inside of a lookout point at the border with Iran, Southern Nagorno-Karabakh. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1378894914958-FQFE0L96QULWRZ0UVKO0/Copyright+Sara+Anjargolian-9.jpg Thousand Yard Stare Colonel Alik Sargsyan walks the trenches. He has been a soldier since the Karabakh independence movement began in 1988. He was taken hostage and was a prisoner of war for a year and half before being released.  https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1378894964031-60F5T3GBNMHXFII73MRS/Copyright+Sara+Anjargolian-10.jpg Thousand Yard Stare On the exposed portion of the road on the way to the Mataghis frontline is partially fortified against Azerbaijani gunfire by large metal canisters, tires and hay.  https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1378894963214-6DTU5RQ6MLG15LH6B3LQ/Copyright+Sara+Anjargolian-11.jpg Thousand Yard Stare 6am, morning calisthenics, at the Jebrail military base in Southern Nagorno-Karabakh.  https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1378894964852-R1SD6VIDN8QD26FJVAJ3/Copyright+Sara+Anjargolian-12.jpg Thousand Yard Stare In two-hour shifts, a statuesque "honorary soldier" guards the flag of the Mataghis military unit at headquarters near Martakert, Nagorno-Karabakh. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1378894969679-I5GQHPNNB5R6ATQ3JC2N/Copyright+Sara+Anjargolian-14.jpg Thousand Yard Stare Lunchtime at the Jebrail military base in Southern Nagorno-Karabakh. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1378894966371-41QS0V7KYKC7L7U88NV3/Copyright+Sara+Anjargolian-15.jpg Thousand Yard Stare A young conscript on clean-up duty at the Jebrail military base in Southern Nagorno-Karabakh.   https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1378894969047-EOSZ566HLZREAJR406XA/Copyright+Sara+Anjargolian-16.jpg Thousand Yard Stare Yeghnikner military base, Nagorno-Karabakh.  https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1378894972406-3I3QWSF9HM15P1C332NX/Copyright+Sara+Anjargolian-17.jpg Thousand Yard Stare A soldier staffs a communications point at the frontline near Jebrail military base, Southern Nagorno-Karabakh. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1378894971506-W21R1NTSMG4U7DX8DSVS/Copyright+Sara+Anjargolian-18.jpg Thousand Yard Stare On the walls of a dugout on the Mataghis frontline hangs a religious poster discouraging violence among the military ranks, a soldier's hat and jacket, and a copy of the official military newspaper.  https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1378894972363-AV2YVAVU866TMMYXN1HX/Copyright+Sara+Anjargolian-19.jpg Thousand Yard Stare Conscripts during the daily exercise regimen at the Yeghnikner military base, Nagorno-Karabakh. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1378894973107-F6JDGML9MSFFBV3M9DTL/Copyright+Sara+Anjargolian-20.jpg Thousand Yard Stare Soldier on night patrol at the Yeghnikner frontline, across from the Gyulistan, Azerbaijan frontline. Soldiers take 2 hour shifts - patrolling for 2 hours and sleeping for 2 hours.  https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1378894973627-WR76Y2IGCUVO94YQMDUA/Copyright+Sara+Anjargolian-21.jpg Thousand Yard Stare Nagorno-Karabakh defense minister Movses Hakobyan (seated left) with commanders at the Yeghnikner military base.  https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1378894976857-UH5GSRM74B377W1G2Y7S/Copyright+Sara+Anjargolian-22.jpg Thousand Yard Stare Colonel Alik Sargsyan watches the Azerbaijani frontline located 30 meters from his position at a lookout post, with young conscript Arman in the background.  https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1378894977921-OPFAHRDFSJIAD48W9LZQ/Copyright+Sara+Anjargolian-23.jpg Thousand Yard Stare Conscripts at the Yeghnikner military base, Nagorno-Karabakh. http://www.saraanjargolian.com/howwelive-exhibition-book daily 0.75 2013-11-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1378910482911-QP3LWDMWNVMW8JI97Q26/1.+Image+Copyright+Sara+Anjargolian+%281+of+8%29.jpg Exhibit | Book | Film Designed and curated by Narineh Mirzaeian, the exhibit features forty 5'x7' photographs printed as translucent screens and suspended from an intricate tensile network. Expressly grouped and choreographed, the arrayed field of images frame strategic perspectives that are meant to invoke the world depicted, directing one through a visual and emotional progression conveying each subject's intimate story. Multimedia projection screens interspersed among the still images add an element of further discovery as the viewer comes upon images in the suspended field which are moving and alive. Exhibit-goers navigate this exhibit intimately, view the photographs from a 360 degree vantage point, and get up close and personal. The immersive experience generated by an unconventional presentation of photography, blurs the distinction between viewer and content, allowing the audience a deeper, more nuanced understanding of the issues presented. Exhibit space at Atwater Crossing. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1378910482911-QP3LWDMWNVMW8JI97Q26/1.+Image+Copyright+Sara+Anjargolian+%281+of+8%29.jpg Exhibit | Book | Film Designed and curated by Narineh Mirzaeian, the exhibit features forty 5'x7' photographs printed as translucent screens and suspended from an intricate tensile network. Expressly grouped and choreographed, the arrayed field of images frame strategic perspectives that are meant to invoke the world depicted, directing one through a visual and emotional progression conveying each subject's intimate story. Multimedia projection screens interspersed among the still images add an element of further discovery as the viewer comes upon images in the suspended field which are moving and alive. Exhibit-goers navigate this exhibit intimately, view the photographs from a 360 degree vantage point, and get up close and personal. The immersive experience generated by an unconventional presentation of photography, blurs the distinction between viewer and content, allowing the audience a deeper, more nuanced understanding of the issues presented. Exhibit space at Atwater Crossing. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1378910481314-Z1P95SCSKTZ8CNR4UL6H/2.+Image+Copyright+Sara+Anjargolian+%282+of+8%29.jpg Exhibit | Book | Film Click HERE to listen to Shirley Jahad's KPCC/NPR news story about this exhibit. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1378910482112-VOQVK3K872H0K3OYQU8M/3.+Image+Copyright+Sara+Anjargolian+%283+of+8%29.jpg Exhibit | Book | Film Click HERE to listen to Shirley Jahad's KPCC/NPR news story about this exhibit. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1378910483807-YN3WD2N8YAVF0PGCVQG1/4.+Image+Copyright+Sara+Anjargolian+%284+of+8%29.jpg Exhibit | Book | Film Click HERE to listen to Shirley Jahad's KPCC/NPR news story about this exhibit. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1378910484995-29VBW0M2TZ0WAN6FZQWR/5.+Image+Copyright+Sara+Anjargolian+%285+of+8%29.jpg Exhibit | Book | Film Click HERE to listen to Shirley Jahad's KPCC/NPR news story about this exhibit. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1378910484643-YB4GYF9A3G2BLP2KVR29/6.+Image+Copyright+Sara+Anjargolian+%286+of+8%29.jpg Exhibit | Book | Film Click HERE to listen to Shirley Jahad's KPCC/NPR news story about this exhibit. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1378910485494-K8AU8D4PVHTL3S0J4X5H/7.+Image+Copyright+Sara+Anjargolian+%287+of+8%29.jpg Exhibit | Book | Film Click HERE to listen to Shirley Jahad's KPCC/NPR news story about this exhibit. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1378910485913-ROVN1FOOUN1MVZCLODIM/8.+Image+Copyright+Sara+Anjargolian+%288+of+8%29.jpg Exhibit | Book | Film Click HERE to listen to Shirley Jahad's KPCC/NPR news story about this exhibit. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1378910486714-8Q6SSNUYTVMLEPYYLG1V/9.+Image+Copyright+Sara+Anjargolian+%281+of+4%29.jpg Exhibit | Book | Film Hardcover book of photography, 96 pages, featuring over 60 vivid photographs and accompanying stories. Purchase via CDRama, Amazon or at select bookstores. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1378910486907-H3FTHB31F6AXCLB6OZK2/10.+Image+Copyright+Sara+Anjargolian+%282+of+4%29.jpg Exhibit | Book | Film Hardcover book of photography featuring over 60 vivid photographs and accompanying stories. Purchase via CDRama, Amazon or at select bookstores. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1378910486395-AWCOBQ4FZ5LE7M074Q8Y/11.+Image+Copyright+Sara+Anjargolian+%283+of+4%29.jpg Exhibit | Book | Film Hardcover book of photography featuring over 60 vivid photographs and accompanying stories. Purchase via CDRama, Amazon or at select bookstores. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1378910487135-SM6UO69YR7H145URVV6M/12.+Image+Copyright+Sara+Anjargolian+%284+of+4%29.jpg Exhibit | Book | Film Hardcover book of photography featuring over 60 vivid photographs and accompanying stories. Purchase via CDRama, Amazon or at select bookstores. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1379618158780-RUNR1BBJEPHXI9662RKO/Screen+shot+2013-09-19+at+11.13.49+PM.png Exhibit | Book | Film http://www.saraanjargolian.com/africa-mobile-clinics daily 0.75 2013-11-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1378909663068-OB2XV6B283NRH2SLN61E/Mobile+Clinic+%281+of+16%29.jpg Mobile Clinics "Mobile Clinics" portrays the daily life of the health care professionals and the Zulu communities they serve from distant hard-to-reach huts to garages turned clinics to prisons. These images were created over the course of several weeks in KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1378909663068-OB2XV6B283NRH2SLN61E/Mobile+Clinic+%281+of+16%29.jpg Mobile Clinics "Mobile Clinics" portrays the daily life of the health care professionals and the Zulu communities they serve from distant hard-to-reach huts to garages-turned-clinics to prisons. These images were created over the course of several weeks in KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1378909662482-Q0WJUH50P2OS2FG1BLST/Mobile+Clinic+%282+of+16%29.jpg Mobile Clinics https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1378909664388-OGZ4GIKQ5R8P84DMYP8J/Mobile+Clinic+%283+of+16%29.jpg Mobile Clinics https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1378909666710-H1TBKNFPTO6ZSSADJG91/Mobile+Clinic+%284+of+16%29.jpg Mobile Clinics https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1378909665737-63AGLJBH3BA2HIJ1DLEX/Mobile+Clinic+%285+of+16%29.jpg Mobile Clinics https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1378909666657-2QU6U8PRE52GVFKP4XE7/Mobile+Clinic+%286+of+16%29.jpg Mobile Clinics https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1378909668863-OK0KPJFYTKY5PVQ1FEBE/Mobile+Clinic+%287+of+16%29.jpg Mobile Clinics https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1378909668676-3B8LFJV536SXGYS6E74G/Mobile+Clinic+%288+of+16%29.jpg Mobile Clinics https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1378909671154-284S0HNJ9T8TQ3978G57/Mobile+Clinic+%289+of+16%29.jpg Mobile Clinics https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1378909671005-LEQZBEUCU7GXSY0ZB5DM/Mobile+Clinic+%2810+of+16%29.jpg Mobile Clinics https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1378909671939-TRYOAITTYYYN8VMYS624/Mobile+Clinic+%2811+of+16%29.jpg Mobile Clinics https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1378909672456-TOAQPG7CG6OOLKDVHYFA/Mobile+Clinic+%2812+of+16%29.jpg Mobile Clinics https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1378909672791-AUYKUW997XX75I9RSB6P/Mobile+Clinic+%2813+of+16%29.jpg Mobile Clinics https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1378909673478-6F8CE6997E6F5DKU7P7L/Mobile+Clinic+%2814+of+16%29.jpg Mobile Clinics https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1378909674840-IKI3HK9RTZZ7ZHUZYCSP/Mobile+Clinic+%2815+of+16%29.jpg Mobile Clinics https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1378909674754-BO47LXSREU5MO4WILG52/Mobile+Clinic+%2816+of+16%29.jpg Mobile Clinics http://www.saraanjargolian.com/howwelive-photographs daily 0.75 2014-01-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1388831784901-WCOYPP7COP2WPQU0X8RG/HWL+title+slide.jpg Photographs Click here to listen to Shirley Jahad's NPR/KPCC news story on the How We Live project and exhibit. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1388831784901-WCOYPP7COP2WPQU0X8RG/HWL+title+slide.jpg Photographs Click here to listen to Shirley Jahad's KPCC/NPR news story on the How We Live project and exhibit. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1378910432980-FHC7RX2JYX5JSEFFXXJE/Copyright+Sara+Anjargolian+%282+of+22%29.jpg Photographs Ani with her favorite doll & her father Senik. Their 6-member household lives in this two room shack in Geghard village where water freezes inside during the winter. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1378910435063-RP7HFZ7EWPH57M7TJVE3/Copyright+Sara+Anjargolian+%283+of+22%29.jpg Photographs Narine with the accordion she once played as a girl. With her 4 children, she escaped an abusive, alcoholic husband who regularly beat and raped her. The family now lives in this dilapidated house in Arinch village. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1378910436566-BJT5GZZDREPCCCMOCRFM/Copyright+Sara+Anjargolian+%284+of+22%29.jpg Photographs Grigor supports his wife and three children by rummaging daily in this garbage dump near Etchmiatzin for items to sell or to burn for fuel. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1378910436783-KZWJI11YJQ60X409VRDO/Copyright+Sara+Anjargolian+%285+of+22%29.jpg Photographs Where Gohar bathes. All bathing and washing is done outdoors in this tub for the five-member family in Arinch village as they do not have a bathroom. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1378910437304-TV51LFQJMM2HYAJF0XMF/Copyright+Sara+Anjargolian+%286+of+22%29.jpg Photographs Ruzana is a single mother and has lived in this tin shack in Nubarashen since 1992, today she lives there with her 4 children. There is no running water, no bathroom, and for the first 12 years, the family had no electricity. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1378910436577-JGQKFPTDW51HEZA7CWN8/Copyright+Sara+Anjargolian+%287+of+22%29.jpg Photographs A single mother, Ruzana and her children scavenge in garbage dumps near their shack in Nubarashen to collect plastics, metals, and glass to sell for food money. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1378910437784-XKTAH1VRUODOB2TBODEU/Copyright+Sara+Anjargolian+%288+of+22%29.jpg Photographs Ruzana's shack in Nubarashen is filled with religious icons, books and artwork. "When I am searching in the garbage dump and come across religious items, I have to bring them home, I cannot leave them there." She explained. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1378910438766-JLCOVJY9NOS7BAACTHUP/Copyright+Sara+Anjargolian+%289+of+22%29.jpg Photographs The nearest water source for Ruzana and her children is a one-hour roundtrip walk from their shack in Nubarashen. A journey the four children take turns making daily. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1378910439802-D2BTM1XM8T1AS3FWFP5H/Copyright+Sara+Anjargolian+%2810+of+22%29.jpg Photographs Ruzana and her 4 children live in a shack located in an open field close to the border with Turkey with a view of Mount Ararat. "We live in the middle of nowhere. If we scream, will anyone hear our voice?" She asked. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1378910440067-LZ0CHP6HDF9I9YRGJ4IW/Copyright+Sara+Anjargolian+%2811+of+22%29.jpg Photographs Discarded cars near his shack are Nver's playground. He is Ruzana's eldest and was born with down syndrome. Children with disabilities are often given to orphanages in Armenia. Despite their difficult life, Ruzana chose to keep Nver. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1378910440449-39624L8X6LV1SS3JL7JH/Copyright+Sara+Anjargolian+%2812+of+22%29.jpg Photographs Arthur, Gayane and their 8 children live in this two-room dormitory space in Vartashen. They had 10 children but two died as children - one from a severe case of dysentery and the other from a tragic accident when at home alone. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1378910441070-M21MDYH5NLNODIN9AS8K/Copyright+Sara+Anjargolian+%2813+of+22%29.jpg Photographs Arthur fought during the Karabakh war. For his service, he received this dormitory room where he lives with his wife and 8 kids. Many former soldiers once celebrated for their heroism now struggle to feed and clothe their families. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1378910444247-ZPJPPRLNYO1GDS6K5TDE/Copyright+Sara+Anjargolian+%2814+of+22%29.jpg Photographs Arsen and his 7 siblings live in a dormitory room in Vardashen. Although the family lives in dire poverty and abortion is an available option, as devout Christians Arthur & Gayane have chosen to keep all the children they have conceived. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1378910443589-IDTP7EWSTKMA7NKM6MJ7/Copyright+Sara+Anjargolian+%2815+of+22%29.jpg Photographs Christina lives with her single mom (who escaped an abusive husband) and 5 siblings in a dilapidated house in Yerevan. 6 months earlier before the family was rescued, they were living in a barn and were extremely malnurished. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1378910444358-H2BVZYVHY1LIF2NAPAZ5/Copyright+Sara+Anjargolian+%2816+of+22%29.jpg Photographs Christina stopped going to school. Her mother Armine needs her at home to care for her younger sister while Armine searches for work. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1378910445208-XNFWSE9XAR1ICGTCW6F6/Copyright+Sara+Anjargolian+%2817+of+22%29.jpg Photographs Nune lives with her 3 children in a run down house in Getap village. Her husband left for Russia and did not return. Her eldest son Vova (16) has not attended school in over 2 years because he is the family's primary breadwinner. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1378910444485-4YGEKGM5TXVEXX45K7OH/Copyright+Sara+Anjargolian+%2818+of+22%29.jpg Photographs Nune owns only a stove and three iron bed frames with no mattresses. The walls of the family's home in Getap village have been blackened with soot. They get by on natural light because they cannot pay the electricity bill.   https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1378910445386-7E0HEFJF2FMO3Y8K3MN7/Copyright+Sara+Anjargolian+%2819+of+22%29.jpg Photographs Susanna lives with her husband Arthur and their daughter Anna in a hut made of metal rods wrapped in plastic sheeting and pieces of cloth located in Shahumyan. When it rains, the family wears galoshes inside their home. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1378910446346-DQPYCML02KKG3OMPAGAN/Copyright+Sara+Anjargolian+%2820+of+22%29.jpg Photographs Susanna and Arthur make their living by trekking several kilometers daily to a garbage dump to find salvageable items to sell. During the winter months when it is difficult to reach the dump, the family has gone hungry for days. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1378910446656-D7SCSUUTD5B60MKCF4GS/Copyright+Sara+Anjargolian+%2821+of+22%29.jpg Photographs Grigor rests at home after a long day at the Shahumyan garbage dump near Etchmiadzin where he scavenges daily alongside other men and their children. He is usually at the dump by 6am when the trucks arrive with fresh garbage. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1378910447024-A46T36T37GT0WMYJ9MGR/Copyright+Sara+Anjargolian+%2822+of+22%29.jpg Photographs While Grigor scavenges at the dump, his mother Haykush (left) slaughters chickens for a local businessman to earn extra money. Sometimes she brings the leftover chicken heads home for her grandchildren to eat. http://www.saraanjargolian.com/zenne-dancer-turkey daily 0.75 2013-11-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1379157787302-RN0MQSVBW11S55534GWC/zenne+white.jpg Zenne Dancer Turkey To learn more about the film watch this CNN piece. To learn more about the true story which inspired the film, read this New York Times article. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1379157787302-RN0MQSVBW11S55534GWC/zenne+white.jpg Zenne Dancer Turkey To learn more about the film watch this CNN piece. To learn more about the true story which inspired the film, read this New York Times article. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1378909806818-51EAXG2AKBD82USM423N/Zenne+1.jpg Zenne Dancer Turkey To learn more about the film watch this CNN piece. To learn more about the true story which inspired the film, read this New York Times article. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1378909808900-S25BAGBOXD0RW873YALO/Zenne+2.jpg Zenne Dancer Turkey To learn more about the film watch this CNN piece. To learn more about the true story which inspired the film, read this New York Times article. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1378909806629-S392TGF42CSTJ7BYDS8X/Zenne+3.jpg Zenne Dancer Turkey To learn more about the film watch this CNN piece. To learn more about the true story which inspired the film, read this New York Times article. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1378909807858-TAKS45O2Q92G353E6UVH/Zenne+4.jpg Zenne Dancer Turkey To learn more about the film watch this CNN piece. To learn more about the true story which inspired the film, read this New York Times article. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1378909808535-ISNRQ8BX9BT6FC0ENRYS/Zenne+5.jpg Zenne Dancer Turkey To learn more about the film watch this CNN piece. To learn more about the true story which inspired the film, read this New York Times article. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1378909809065-DSCR7W7YWO2LVO0M2402/Zenne+6.jpg Zenne Dancer Turkey To learn more about the film watch this CNN piece. To learn more about the true story which inspired the film, read this New York Times article. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1378909809611-RYDUPEOAJCKB3CUUP38M/Zenne+7.jpg Zenne Dancer Turkey To learn more about the film watch this CNN piece. To learn more about the true story which inspired the film, read this New York Times article. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1378909808754-0DN9A7PT21AJC3HUCPZE/Zenne+8.jpg Zenne Dancer Turkey To learn more about the film watch this CNN piece. To learn more about the true story which inspired the film, read this New York Times article. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1378909810345-8CDOMBNFX33HHRR1972P/Zenne+9.jpg Zenne Dancer Turkey To learn more about the film watch this CNN piece. To learn more about the true story which inspired the film, read this New York Times article. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1378909810239-HCA93Q6WW1TF0CYRD7S4/Zenne+10.jpg Zenne Dancer Turkey To learn more about the film watch this CNN piece. To learn more about the true story which inspired the film, read this New York Times article. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1378909810086-B3XXF81CKIV742NBR8ZP/Zenne+11.jpg Zenne Dancer Turkey To learn more about the film watch this CNN piece. To learn more about the true story which inspired the film, read this New York Times article. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1378910387748-5PE5PY1ZK2JWENSBP4PD/Zenne+12.jpg Zenne Dancer Turkey To learn more about the film watch this CNN piece. To learn more about the true story which inspired the film, read this New York Times article. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1378909811296-CWDSWQB2OA49BV367PK9/Zenne+13.jpg Zenne Dancer Turkey To learn more about the film watch this CNN piece. To learn more about the true story which inspired the film, read this New York Times article. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1378909811897-W9WI5UIFLIO4BJQOS6BO/Zenne+14.jpg Zenne Dancer Turkey To learn more about the film watch this CNN piece. To learn more about the true story which inspired the film, read this New York Times article. http://www.saraanjargolian.com/africa-masked-exhibit daily 0.75 2013-11-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1383652030872-1W7YWT27SFDAW1MF6URP/masked.jpg Masked | Exhibit To learn more about the A.R.T. show and the Make Art/Stop AIDS global initiative - click HERE and HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1383652030872-1W7YWT27SFDAW1MF6URP/masked.jpg Masked | Exhibit To learn more about the A.R.T. show and the Make Art/Stop AIDS global initiative - click HERE and HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1378909563492-3XZOKL4J35MDIAAZ0B4V/0.+Sara+Anjargolian-.jpg Masked | Exhibit https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1378909566234-QFF8MMOF1W80CXTUF3Y0/2.+Sara+Anjargolian-2.jpg Masked | Exhibit https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1378909567221-NREQMBQGXLKV7IYV7LFC/3.+Sara+Anjargolian-3.jpg Masked | Exhibit https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1378909564132-93OTGXW9YZ6EVDK3FEYJ/1.+Sara+Anjargolian-1.jpg Masked | Exhibit https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1378909568112-44FB1EYH6AQNOCWY5NEF/4.+Sara+Anjargolian-1-2.jpg Masked | Exhibit https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1378909569349-Q01G9QNAG6PWNDE2W3B7/5.+Sara+Anjargolian-2-2.jpg Masked | Exhibit https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1378909572277-JF8Y00H3WTL9K2S80MOO/6.+Sara+Anjargolian-.jpg Masked | Exhibit https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1378909570548-NFTVVLV2LOZBZFRVP2TZ/7.+Sara+Anjargolian-4.jpg Masked | Exhibit https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1378909572467-L2WBUE4Y7A7E1ULDJKCX/8.+Sara+Anjargolian-2.jpg Masked | Exhibit https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1378909574618-6NPDZF4I7371AIPVFYEX/9.+Sara+Anjargolian-1.jpg Masked | Exhibit https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1378909581776-4EW02BN8QBXZA9EU9CQW/10.+article+jpeg.jpg Masked | Exhibit https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1378909577548-QK38YL50663Q15VD7PRJ/11.+Masked+%281+of+11%29.jpg Masked | Exhibit https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1378909579098-LQM9PV7VKWRDP8HQN6J5/12.+Masked+%282+of+11%29.jpg Masked | Exhibit https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1378909580898-8F3QSDWJIPZI6USCTA0N/13.+Masked+%283+of+11%29.jpg Masked | Exhibit https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1378909581901-W36URC7496TOP3I1GY94/13.+Masked+%284+of+11%29.jpg Masked | Exhibit https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1378909583397-QC2GI0PLDZVXX2MCBG85/14.+Masked+%285+of+11%29.jpg Masked | Exhibit https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1378909584812-QIGKW6XC3KA8NMILE3P8/15.+Masked+%286+of+11%29.jpg Masked | Exhibit https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1378909585193-4NDPG5LW5N1T2M07LGEO/16.+Masked+%287+of+11%29.jpg Masked | Exhibit https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1378909586643-45ZWIJC4CL186AOHHBYY/17.+Masked+%288+of+11%29.jpg Masked | Exhibit https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1378909590090-PIZ8L0I08DDABLISMYPR/18.+Masked+%289+of+11%29.jpg Masked | Exhibit https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1378909588647-25IB565HDBR4C9OT3W10/19.+Masked+%2810+of+11%29.jpg Masked | Exhibit https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1378909590113-T58ZBEEENMJQN99PSNI3/20.+Masked+%2811+of+11%29.jpg Masked | Exhibit https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1378909565551-573Y64NETJQXMUTZ9QRF/01.+Sara+Anjargolian--2.jpg Masked | Exhibit http://www.saraanjargolian.com/lives-on-the-line daily 0.75 2013-11-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1383714585722-T969LBFOZI9WHEQN95WA/on+the+line.jpg Lives on the Line To learn more about the work done by the Women's Resource Center on behalf of refugee families in Armenia, click HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1383714585722-T969LBFOZI9WHEQN95WA/on+the+line.jpg Lives on the Line To learn more about the work done by the Women's Resource Center on behalf of refugee families in Armenia, click HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1378895349232-AGGXUCM1HZGKQF8BSVM2/Image+Copyright+Sara+Anjargolian+%281+of+21%29.jpg Lives on the Line Abandoned homes in Dastakert are Alik's playground. His parents are refugees from Azerbaijan. Of the 4000 residents who once lived here, there are 320 left, mostly refugees. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1378895371417-M9LCS98KNYWLVULWI6V4/Image+Copyright+Sara+Anjargolian+%282+of+21%29.jpg Lives on the Line The Hovhannisyan's of Shatvan village, refugees from Azerbaijan, are unable to repay a $1000 bank loan they took out at 24% to buy seed for planting. A dry spell destroyed the crop and the cow used as collateral died. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1378895400730-H9I7B52SAGXRW3M9D2G6/Image+Copyright+Sara+Anjargolian+%283+of+21%29.jpg Lives on the Line Men in Dastakert, mostly refugees from Azerbaijan, anxiously await the reopening of a copper plant which, despite its detrimental effects on health and the environment, promises desperately needed jobs. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1378895400005-J8306A38ZFFFY3CG56C7/Image+Copyright+Sara+Anjargolian+%284+of+21%29.jpg Lives on the Line In Tretuk village, this abandoned home of an Azerbaijani family has been inhabited by Grisha, his wife, and their 7 children since they moved to Armenia from Kirovabad. Grisha cannot find a job, the family lives on government subsidies. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1378895401671-ARSUUVIRF3O4SS25JS0O/Image+Copyright+Sara+Anjargolian+%285+of+21%29.jpg Lives on the Line A refugee from Azerbaijan, Mrs. Janeta serves coffee at her home in Shatvan village. To help support her 10-member family, she cleans cow dung in neighbors' barns for $8 per job. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1378895431021-H1W6QH5WV1CO26GHW5YX/Image+Copyright+Sara+Anjargolian+%286+of+21%29.jpg Lives on the Line The Hovhannisyan children in Shatvan village have not had a birthday celebration in years, the family cannot afford the festivities. The family's diet is mostly soup, with meat being a rare luxury.  https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1378895430680-F7QQEF3LV2ENNDZYP1N4/Image+Copyright+Sara+Anjargolian+%287+of+21%29.jpg Lives on the Line Veronica with son Vitalik in Tretuk village. She moved to Tretuk from Sumgait when she was 14. Veronica is a single mother with two boys, both of whom live at an orphanage for most of the year because she is unable to care for them. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1378895431898-V6FEJ5B41W89UXQ10MO2/Image+Copyright+Sara+Anjargolian+%288+of+21%29.jpg Lives on the Line At the Hovhannisyan's home in Shatvan village. Refugees from Azerbaijan, the family is unable to repay a $1000 bank loan they took out at 24% to buy seed for planting. They are awaiting a court decision which may result in losing their home to the bank. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1378895432511-YV6MH8OWTFOABBSUT2V6/Image+Copyright+Sara+Anjargolian+%289+of+21%29.jpg Lives on the Line The Der Grigoryan family, although not refugees themselves, are one of the most impoverished in the refugee village of Jaghatsadzor. Before authorities stepped in to help, the family was planning to keep the children from school because they lacked proper clothes.   https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1378895432825-WVHBOT3YLA28C9AYPXUZ/Image+Copyright+Sara+Anjargolian+%2810+of+21%29.jpg Lives on the Line Vera Mejlumyan and her family fled the town of Shahumian in Azerbaijan to Jaghatsadzor village in the late 1980s during the Karabakh war. Unable to find work in Armenia, Vera has decided to leave for Russia. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1378895433688-ZNGWAZ13H0KJV374RTXS/Image+Copyright+Sara+Anjargolian+%2811+of+21%29.jpg Lives on the Line Gevork lost his arm in a firefight with Azerbaijani forces while patrolling the border. At the hospital, he fell in love with his nurse, but her parents forbid the relationship because of Gevork's disability. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1378895436263-KN6T23QIG9GQUY92KTS2/Image+Copyright+Sara+Anjargolian+%2812+of+21%29.jpg Lives on the Line Two of Grisha's seven children. Refugees from Kirovabad, Grisha and his 8-member family sleep together in one room warmed by a wood burning stove. They live in an Azerbaijani family's abandoned home. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1378895434786-9O4XJJF00H22DSICFDSS/Image+Copyright+Sara+Anjargolian+%2813+of+21%29.jpg Lives on the Line Zakhar, the town veterinarian, jumps into a jump truck which doubles as a hearse at funerals in Dastakert. 70% of the town's residents are refugees from the cities of Baku, Sumgait, or Kirovabad. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1378895436139-PFLJQ0H2ZFO09TYW6KKB/Image+Copyright+Sara+Anjargolian+%2814+of+21%29.jpg Lives on the Line Hovhannes Hovhannisyan insisted on being photographed in front of his car. Refugees from Azerbaijan, Hovhannes' family has been unable to repay a bank loan and is awaiting a court decision which may result in losing their home.  https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1378895437232-DD25BVVPB9AB4L23Q2EU/Image+Copyright+Sara+Anjargolian+%2815+of+21%29.jpg Lives on the Line Zhenya, 13, suffers from an eye infection at home in the village of Metz Masrik. Her grandfather Robert, a refugee from Azerbaijan, often rummages through nearby garbage dumps in search of items to burn for fuel. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1378895439166-CSPLI9FF6VOZT08YA2T3/Image+Copyright+Sara+Anjargolian+%2816+of+21%29.jpg Lives on the Line Grisha and his wife moved to this abandoned Azerbaijani home in Tretuk village after arriving from Kirovabad. They have 7 children - the eldest a disabled boy and the youngest 7-month-old twins. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1378895438017-HIMAQ0NRVVLH6I0808RK/Image+Copyright+Sara+Anjargolian+%2817+of+21%29.jpg Lives on the Line Robert Khachatryan, 69, rummages through a garbage dump in Metz Masrik village searching for items to burn for fuel. He is the eldest of an 11-member family and arrived to Armenia from Aygestan village in Azerbaijan. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1378895438800-RPOU4H44R0P0QUFWGQFS/Image+Copyright+Sara+Anjargolian+%2818+of+21%29.jpg Lives on the Line Vladimir Gabrielyan was 75 when he passed away. He and his wife Rayisa are refugees from Baku and moved to Dastakert during the Karabakh war. The couple had no children. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1378895439473-3QAU4UMNJO8N1AKL9ALT/Image+Copyright+Sara+Anjargolian+%2819+of+21%29.jpg Lives on the Line The Hovhannisyan family women at home in Shatvan village. Refugees from Azerbaijan, the family is unable to repay a $1000 bank loan they took out at 24% to buy seed for planting. A dry spell destroyed their potato crop and the cow used as collateral died. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1378895442554-NZKMU2V8LW24DSEY525C/Image+Copyright+Sara+Anjargolian+%2820+of+21%29.jpg Lives on the Line Lilit at home in Dastakert. Her father Roudik moved to Dastakert from Baku 23 years ago. To help her family get by, Lilit works in a neighbor's field picking berries and harvesting grass. Lilit's dream is to leave the small town and move to Armenia's capital Yerevan. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1378895440583-SLCUU3WDLHLA9AXE5VPV/Image+Copyright+Sara+Anjargolian+%2821+of+21%29.jpg Lives on the Line Vladimir Gabrielyan's final resting place in the hills above Dastakert - he was 75 when he passed. He and his wife Rayisa, refugees from Baku, moved to Dastakert during the Karabakh war. The couple had no children. http://www.saraanjargolian.com/an-absent-presence daily 0.75 2014-01-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1388832524589-SBPL18HTH7VK651YAYUN/absent+title+.jpg An Absent Presence Click HERE to read Svetlana Bachenova's interview about this project featured on FotoEvidence. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1388832524589-SBPL18HTH7VK651YAYUN/absent+title+.jpg An Absent Presence Click HERE to read Svetlana Bachenova's interview about this project featured on FotoEvidence. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1379348669732-AAEDKFAT442CLCJHQGFX/Anjargolian-2894.jpg An Absent Presence Two years ago I photographed a series of protests in Yerevan with the mothers and fathers of soldiers who had died in mysterious noncombat circumstances while completing their two years of compulsory military service in Armenia. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1379348672037-0H8PV3L5BGYUHJBQ3Q0O/Anjargolian-2911.jpg An Absent Presence The legal system had failed to uncover what happened to their sons. For these families, the entire system seemed to be conspiring against the truth. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1379348675476-R1T3DHAA3A7LIZI7YRBX/Anjargolian-2917.jpg An Absent Presence Human rights organizations estimate the number of noncombat deaths since Armenia's armed forced were established to be between 1500 and 3000. (Source: Helsinki Citizens' Assembly) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1379348657140-QOWX6AXKUHWUCXMWL7GP/Anjargolian-0939.jpg An Absent Presence A group of soldiers' mothers stand in front of the government building at Yerevan's Republic Square every Thursday morning at 11am holding their sons' photographs and demanding that their cases be handled justly. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1380117223147-VZUTK3CFAV7J2CUXD6RU/Anjargolian-7398.jpg An Absent Presence Cradling her deceased son Valery's photograph, Nana Muradyan stands in front of the government building in Yerevan where she and other mothers protest the unsolved crimes committed against their sons during their mandatory military service. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1379348711862-YMA5UM9XPFAFG0HDXT6S/Anjargolian-7641.jpg An Absent Presence I visited Nana Muradyan twice at her home and both times she was alone. Her home was immaculate, everything perfectly in its place. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1379348704829-L9LHJRDM4A4IPAM3YW2E/Anjargolian-7622.jpg An Absent Presence Nana's son Valery loved being a soldier. The family had decided to leave Armenia after his military service but Valery had convinced them to stay so that he could become a contract officer. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1379348713536-BOTBGE7ABOGC97NASWJC/Anjargolian-7681.jpg An Absent Presence In 2010, Valery's body was found hanging from a metal pipe at the military base where he was serving. The military says he committed suicide, Valery's family believes their son was killed and the suicide staged to cover up the murder. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1379348651976-WAGHASJBCA6O40M9H1RZ/Anjargolian-0918.jpg An Absent Presence Nana examines her son Valery's autopsy photos. She recounted having received a phone call from him several days before the incident, he had witnessed military personnel stealing fuel from the base and was offered 3000 dram ($7) to stay quiet. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1379348709077-IT0OUVJ6CQYTWJX75X3R/Anjargolian-7629.jpg An Absent Presence Nana with baby Valery. She believes her son's death was related to his having witnessed the fuel theft. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1379348648441-VQH478M9QHXVLXMCCN8G/Anjargolian-0881.jpg An Absent Presence "When we realized that our son's murder was being covered up, we decided to take our son's body out of the ground in protest and put it in Republic Square. Our whole neighborhood came out with shovels in hand. But we were talked out of it with more promises that justice would prevail." https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1379348647968-DCQJ7AULTH7F89I6XPEN/Anjargolian-0895.jpg An Absent Presence "My son and daughter slept in the same room, on two beds at opposite sides of the room. Now that my son's bed is empty, my husband, daughter and I will often sit or lie on it - it is the place where we feel closest to him." https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1379348663807-4MCEC1MPGOTMB59THRBV/Anjargolian-1977.jpg An Absent Presence No military personnel have been held responsible for Valery's death. Nana and her family continue to seek justice: "If all the mothers whose sons have died like this join us, we would fill this entire square with mothers in black." https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1379348679019-JP9RXTC8K3Y4CBEJ24OP/Anjargolian-7381.jpg An Absent Presence Anahit Avedisyan's son Araik was killed in 2001 - shot point blank in the head. The Avedisyan family believes that Araik's battalion commander while drunk, shot Araik for paying him only half of the $100 he had demanded for allowing Araik to take leave to visit his family. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1379348706486-79AWO971TPH8ZI3UBTD3/Anjargolian-7551.jpg An Absent Presence Anahit and Aghasi at their son's grave. "While serving, my son would describe how the battalion commander would grab soldiers by the collar and put his loaded gun to their heads to scare them. This is the same way my son was killed." https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1379348690396-TXUW5ZB8DPZVQEVC6M28/Anjargolian-7418.jpg An Absent Presence Other parents with sons at the same military base as Araik told the Avedisyans that they would send $100 per month to the commander as an "insurance policy" for their sons' well being. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1379348690854-GQEEHM1KMCWSNMBJV1TF/Anjargolian-7427.jpg An Absent Presence Araik Avedisyan's bedroom. "I overheard a conversation my grandchildren were having the other day," Anahit recalled, "my granddaughter Ani asked my grandson Ara what he wants to be when he grows up. Ara said 'a soldier' and Ani responded 'Don't be a soldier, they leave and never come back.'"  https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1379348699356-UTGX4ZOJ1WOXAVMAF0HT/Anjargolian-7460.jpg An Absent Presence Araik's mother keeps a tuft of her son's hair from his childhood. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1379348701214-LF2UNI9JZ0R4FQGLXR8Y/Anjargolian-7511.jpg An Absent Presence Another soldier admitted to accidentally killing Araik while handling a loaded gun - the Avedisyans believe that the admission was coerced in order to protect the battalion commander. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1379348696406-LDQX5MG963VP8UPEU6OF/Anjargolian-7487.jpg An Absent Presence The Avedisyans case is now being considered by the European Court of Human Rights. "Everyone knows what happened to my son. Once I saw a group of men from our village getting ready to board a bus to begin their military service. We locked eyes and it was as if they were asking me 'will we come back?'" https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1379348685661-8AIYJREV7C5TBL5NEOQL/Anjargolian-7393.jpg An Absent Presence Irina Ghazaryan's son Arthur died in 2010 during his military service. The military contends that the nineteen year old died of a brain tumor. The Ghazaryans believe their son was killed. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1379348738776-OBXM7NKTK6XXLM28M434/Anjargolian-7910.jpg An Absent Presence Arthur's parents Smbat and Irina sit beneath their son's portrait sifting through case files, paperwork and autopsy photographs related to their son's death. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1379348732039-AY4WNFLGSNJIWJ102W4J/Anjargolian-7870.jpg An Absent Presence Irina: "My husband was so proud to have 3 sons all of whom served in the military. But since my son's death, he is so angry, that he often says that should there be a war he will kill several of our commanders before lifting a finger against the enemy." https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1379348717768-WC3GD8WD1BZTANRFNRJ7/Anjargolian-7768.jpg An Absent Presence Irina: "On December 14 Arthur called from the base, he said that one of the commanders was running a narcotics business. I told him to be quiet and not talk about these things on the telephone."  https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1383551939989-M8WYZYQEUZXDQLPJY190/portraits+arthurs.jpg An Absent Presence Irina: "For three days after that phone call, I could not get a hold of my son. I have no idea what happened during those three days. Then they called us with the news that Arthur was taken to the hospital."   https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1379348731453-117LSGYL1COX0S9N4857/Anjargolian-7881.jpg An Absent Presence Irina's three sons all slept in the same room together. They have not removed the third bed from the room since his death. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1379348718949-PJ1IGW209ENDDJAHD41E/Anjargolian-7740.jpg An Absent Presence Arthur's home. The military contends that Arthur died of a brain tumor. Irina and Smbat suspect foul play related to the narcotics story their son recounted. Among other inconsistencies during the investigation, the autopsy did not produce a tumor. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1379348680529-KVNRLK4NI3LNY09FJE5G/Anjargolian-7388.jpg An Absent Presence Gohar Ohanjayan's son Tigran died in 2007 while serving. During his last three months of service he complained that the commanders would hit him. The military says Tigran ran into a live wire and was electrocuted. The Ohanjanyan family believes their son was killed. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1383636528932-JD29S7GX2I0IVWQ2Z6WX/tigran+young+and+old.jpg An Absent Presence Gohar:  "My son Tigran was born in 1988. I remember lying in the hospital listening to the hundreds of thousands of people outside demanding Armenia's independence from the Soviet Union." https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1379348743150-F4AHW9P7UEMUMVKFN06B/Anjargolian-7975.jpg An Absent Presence Gohar: "My son was 12 when we decided to move to Russia. We could not make ends meet here in Armenia. One day Tigran saw Armenia's defense minister on TV talking about military service. That's when he decided to return to Armenia to serve." https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1379348754425-28AIAG2YB1NMNMSTS8FZ/Anjargolian-8018.jpg An Absent Presence While serving, Tigran recounted that a younger, weaker soldier was being hazed by the officers and was hit. Tigran had stepped in and criticized the officers. The Ohanjanyans believe their son's death was related to this incident. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1379348739849-UIJOT0RN45IHT97YK8X2/Anjargolian-7930.jpg An Absent Presence Tigran's bedroom. Gohar: "Since we were in Russia, our family members would visit Tigran at the base. On August 22 they noticed once that his eye was bruised and bloodied and that his fists were damaged. Eight days later our son was dead." https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1379677493517-0WHP2TN14L8WG4SKW3SZ/tigran+diptych.jpg An Absent Presence Tigran was a skilled judoist and had received numerous medals and accolades in judo. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1379348761788-OB6R5UHDUXXHN0LUJF7K/Anjargolian-8058.jpg An Absent Presence Tigran's boxing gloves.   https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1379348746523-UMTFPOOC07P0HT4H5QO2/Anjargolian-7979.jpg An Absent Presence The Ohanjanyan family home.  https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1379348757712-HK3BSVZQMYQFTEADK3PR/Anjargolian-8053.jpg An Absent Presence Tigran's judo medals.  https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1379348663429-4ZTL32XD5UUZ4SIONE2O/Anjargolian-1941.jpg An Absent Presence A year after Tigran's death, Tigran's father (left) was attacked twice by a group of men who hit him and warned him to stop protesting his son's death. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1379348766105-99GJJH37SC8E7XF2483L/Anjargolian-8087.jpg An Absent Presence Gohar: "It's so hard not to know what happened to my child." Although the military's official position is that Tigran was accidentally electrocuted, no electricity was found in the area where he died. The Ohanjanyans continue to seek the truth in their son's case. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1379348772542-RUDTOBZJIPAAO6KNCYZG/Anjargolian-8765.jpg An Absent Presence Meguerdich Meguerdichian sits next to the bed where his son Jora died in 2012. While serving at the Yeghnikner military base, Jora was severely beaten and fell into a coma. He later died at home in Lousakn village. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1379348768195-OZY1UGW3528Z9HAU6G0B/Anjargolian-8585.jpg An Absent Presence No one has been held responsible for Jora's death. The Meguerdichian family lives in abject poverty and has not received any aid from the government.  https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1379348771111-N3DGQ6FVPX58H13Z67KV/Anjargolian-8753.jpg An Absent Presence Jora's mother Gohar breastfeeding her youngest child. Jora was her eldest. She has four children remaining - two of them boys, who upon their eighteenth birthday will in turn be required to serve in the military. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1379348687087-N801GG3S3VM46A7XP8K0/Anjargolian-7414.jpg An Absent Presence To learn more or to get involved with the issue of non-combat deaths in Armenia, please connect with the following people/organizations: Lala Aslikyan, Tsovinar Nazaryan - Army in Reality Civic Initiative | Zhanna Alexanyan - Journalists for Human Rights | Sona Ayvazyan - Transperancy International http://www.saraanjargolian.com/africa-a-quiet-corner daily 0.75 2013-11-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1384172222343-9C6INJC0NRPBDXFBY5CN/zulu.jpg A Quiet Corner | TEDx Talk Click here to view my TEDx talk about this project. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1384172222343-9C6INJC0NRPBDXFBY5CN/zulu.jpg A Quiet Corner | TEDx Talk Click here to view my TEDx talk about this project. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1378909760131-VT19CZIMVXAA1R0ZA3PM/1.jpg A Quiet Corner | TEDx Talk https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1378909760785-U479V99W7GCNYFTZTYS4/2.jpg A Quiet Corner | TEDx Talk https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1378909761877-1UXKFF0RLEGHPM8OUAMI/3.jpg A Quiet Corner | TEDx Talk https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1378909762438-B0D70IJXX2H7UGPS1PML/4.jpg A Quiet Corner | TEDx Talk https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1378909762194-ADL1KRA0CDLI5VQHUO3X/5.jpg A Quiet Corner | TEDx Talk https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1378909764236-ZIWBNWK4LBMI0P7OMMNY/6.jpg A Quiet Corner | TEDx Talk https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1378909764108-CKCURKJ7RI0DWXMFRUXV/7.jpg A Quiet Corner | TEDx Talk https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1378909766655-J2KP2YMNS3VH6XKXU1HC/8.jpg A Quiet Corner | TEDx Talk https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1378909767915-EO8OLCGOF7KIJ3HP5XW7/9.jpg A Quiet Corner | TEDx Talk https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1378909767866-V8VQOI132IWZ5L6T94L8/10a.jpg A Quiet Corner | TEDx Talk https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1378909769959-2ZCR7D18OKR3NCNVO6NN/10b.jpg A Quiet Corner | TEDx Talk https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1378909770733-BNVZWK26XDU9AQQATQ5Z/11.jpg A Quiet Corner | TEDx Talk https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1378909771617-IZPLLXEM8BRDI18E6EZI/12.jpg A Quiet Corner | TEDx Talk https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1378909773494-CHK8117OD1WVM4MRO1SE/13.jpg A Quiet Corner | TEDx Talk https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1378909772661-R4YYHGS095Q4ACMFI7ZV/14.jpg A Quiet Corner | TEDx Talk https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1378909773876-TLSMZLP4NFCLNAF8ZON8/15.jpg A Quiet Corner | TEDx Talk https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1378909775647-3YDBBY8TK9KXMQIQUJVF/16.jpg A Quiet Corner | TEDx Talk https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1378909777136-0TP5MNBXTX6UP7LSZJL1/17.jpg A Quiet Corner | TEDx Talk https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1378909777141-A8Y5XWVRWUA5TEHR2902/18.jpg A Quiet Corner | TEDx Talk https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1378909778650-HXX4QW1M4E5SLR2EV2LU/Cabinet+1.jpg A Quiet Corner | TEDx Talk This work was shown in 2012 in Washington DC at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival and at the International AIDS conference in collaboration with South African curator Carol Brown, Professor David Gere, and the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Make Art/Stop AIDS global initiative. To learn more click HERE and HERE . https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1378909778904-B8LL2TKDROTJHNN2B0W9/Cabinet+2.jpg A Quiet Corner | TEDx Talk This work was shown in 2012 in Washington DC at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival and at the International AIDS conference in collaboration with South African curator Carol Brown, Professor David Gere, and the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Make Art/Stop AIDS global initiative. To learn more click HERE and HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1378909780241-1Z7LGRFKBCORE6AXQHM7/Cabinet+3.jpg A Quiet Corner | TEDx Talk This work was shown in 2012 in Washington DC at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival and at the International AIDS conference in collaboration with South African curator Carol Brown, Professor David Gere, and the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Make Art/Stop AIDS global initiative. To learn more click HERE and HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1378909779784-9XVNA1UERW5U2NTJZC5K/Cabinet+4.jpg A Quiet Corner | TEDx Talk This work was shown in 2012 in Washington DC at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival and at the International AIDS conference in collaboration with South African curator Carol Brown, Professor David Gere, and the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Make Art/Stop AIDS global initiative. To learn more click HERE and HERE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1379613603126-RLWT5HZ8UUDISDG6OXK1/tedx.jpg A Quiet Corner | TEDx Talk http://www.saraanjargolian.com/home daily 1.0 2013-09-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1379162515103-P0DP6MGA9WT8VP563B9I/ANJARGOLIAN+1.jpg HOME https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1379162516367-DFU2FUE73PW7TTM1PMV4/ANJARGOLIAN+2.jpg HOME https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1379162516802-ZAGD73BIHEYZ28I9OHFS/ANJARGOLIAN+3.jpg HOME https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1379162518258-01O7CHERU5OVZJTW3MEK/ANJARGOLIAN+4.jpg HOME https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1379162518265-M5D24QYX7TMOSZJ2PDCR/ANJARGOLIAN+5.jpg HOME https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1379162519445-3LMCJJIMZGYUMA1Y1N6T/ANJARGOLIAN+6.jpg HOME https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1379162522591-X3OBOVFQO3JA4KZ84C9N/ANJARGOLIAN+7.jpg HOME https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1379162521426-EBY7Q7GPRAUP988AT7AB/ANJARGOLIAN+8.jpg HOME https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1379162522079-UXK053E8FQA7RNOQA7RN/ANJARGOLIAN+9.jpg HOME https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1382771218684-UI3ERM9OJPG7EK6RBYAZ/Anjargolian-8765.jpg HOME http://www.saraanjargolian.com/contact daily 0.75 2024-04-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523043a1e4b05dc312ea27c6/1396453781616-VPW6Y0628PS6LZY2AOV4/sara+bw2.jpg About | Contact http://www.saraanjargolian.com/exhibitions-events daily 0.75 2014-10-28