nagorno karabakh
Karabakh is an independent but unrecognized state, at war with Azerbaijan over territorial claims. Blooming in the Black Garden is a project that portrays the stories of young people born after the de facto independence, who search for a national identity, torn between a sense of pride of Karabakh and Armenian belonging. Part of a project that i'm doing with my colleague Karl Mancini. It will document the unrecognized countries through the stories of younger generations, in search of a national identity and a brighter future.
Stepanakert, NKR. Children from a local private school visiting Tatik & Papik monoument, known also as "we Are Our Mountains", that represent the Armenian heritage of Nagorno-Karabakh.
Madagis village, Martakert region,NKR. Artsakh Sargsyan and his wife Hripsime Aslanyan. They have 3 children (2 twins). She works in the local municipality office but now she is on maternity leave. He is a professional military officer.
Stepanakert, NKR. Maternity Hospital. Dr Edward Gharamanyan, gynaecologist, visiting a woman close to giving birth. To increase the population growth the state gives several concessionsto large families, arriving to give a home to families with 4 children.
Stepanakert, NKR. A woman just gave birth at the maternity hospital. To increase the population growth the state gives several concessions to large families arriving to give an home to families with 4 children
Stepanakert, NKR. Students outside Artsak State Univerity. Being an unrecognized country, graduation has value only in NKR and Armenia
Stepanakert, NKR. Aper Armanovich is a member of guard of honor of Karabakh
Stepanakert, NKR. inside the Secondary school number 7 Yenghishe Charents there's also a class where students can learn to use a rifle and have military teachings.
Stepanakert, NKR. Military-sports gymnasium Khristofor Ivanyan. The Military Academy is a school for boys aged 13-14 years, which is equivalent to a normal college. Often it's the families that address the children to military trials. For all male citizens of the NKR military service it is compulsory at 18 and lasts two years.
Stepanakert, NKR. Young soldiers during the first triple anniversary celebrations sfter the war events of april 2016. Every May,9 in Karabakh people celebrate the liberation of the city of Shushi during the first war against Azerbaijan, the formation of the Karabakhian army and the victory in the second world war.
Shushi, NKR. Shushi Liberal Arts College Arsen Khachatryan. Larisa davtyan, reflecting in the mirror during a painting lesson.
Shushi, NKR. Shushi Liberal Arts College Arsen Khachatryan. Tigran Khachatryan 17 yrs, posing as a model for the portrait lesson.
Talish,Martakert Region. NKR. Marieta Khachatryan, born in 1957. Talish village is located in the north of Martakert region of Nagorno-Karabakh, and is the closest to the frontline with Azerbaijan. Situation on the border is tense, there are frequent skirmishes. But people got used to it and keep on living with their daily concerns. "we only want peace and no more shootings - said Marieta - we want more young people in the village, if there are no shooting people reamain here and find a job" " My husband has been wunded during the war, and my son Spartk too, now he is disable"
Madagis village, Martakert region,NKR. Suren Grigoryan's nephews are playing on a swing in the backyard of their granfather's house. "The population is growing and we don't have enough space for children like kindergardens or schools".
Shushi, NKR. Inside an heavy damaged building in the citycenter. Shushi has been theatre of very heavy fights in 1992 and the conquer of the town by the Armenian forces has been a turning point for the fate of the war since Shushi was the stronghold from where the Azere seized Stepanakert.
Stepanakert, NKR. Artsakh state university. A group of female students are checking the lessons timetable during a break. Being an unrecognized country, graduation has value only in NKR and Armenia.
Talish,Martakert Region. NKR. Spartak Khachatryan lays in bed since he's disable due to an explosion during the war in the 90's. Talish village is located in the north of Martakert region of Nagorno-Karabakh, and is the closest to the frontline with Azerbaijan. Situation on the border is tense, there are frequent skirmishes. But people got used to it and keep on living with their daily concerns.
Madagis Village, Martakert region. NKR. Roads to the vilages are in bad conditions and the cars need to be fixed frequentely.
NKR Frontline with Azerbaijan, Hadrut region. Young soldiers daily life's inside the trenches. Arayik Khachatryan, 19, Davit Hakobjanyan, 19, Hayk Melqumyan, 19, Grisha Barseghyan, 20, Edgar Prikyan, 19 and Vahe Mkrtchyan, 19 during a break of the fightings. Along the contact line, the closest point between the two armies is just 200 meters. During the 4 days war 85 Armenian-Karabakhian soldiers were killed and more than 300 were wounded. Despite the ceasefire, the clashes still continuing and there are injured or killed soldiers almost daily. All the soldiers and the volunteers who joined the army after the war events are very young.
NKR Frontline with Azerbaijan, Hadrut region. A tank hided in the trenches. Along the contact line, the closest point between the two armies is just 200 meters. During the 4 days war 85 Armenian-Karabakhian soldiers were killed and more than 300 were wounded. Despite the ceasefire, the clashes still continuing and there are injured or killed soldiers almost daily. All the soldiers and the volunteers who joined the army after the war events are very young.
Stepanakert, NKR. Two young mums and a new born in the maternity hospital
Stepanakert, NKR. A young wounded soldier recovered in the military hospital of Stepanakert stands on the door of his room. He was shooted to his left leg by the Azeri army during the 4days war in which 85 Armenian-Karabakhian soldiers were killed and more than 300 were wounded. In the hospital daily arrive injured from the frontline. Most of all are very young.
Gandzasar, NKR. Panoramic view of the city of Vank from the Gandzasar monastery
Madagis Village, Martakert region. NKR. Ziguli in front of an armenian flag painted on a rock at the entrance of the village.
NKR Frontline with Azerbaijan, Hadrut region. Young soldiers daily life's inside the trenches. Gharib Budaghyan portraited in the trenches during his turn of guard. Along the contact line, the closest point between the two armies is just 200 meters. During the 4 days war 85 Armenian-Karabakhian soldiers were killed and more than 300 were wounded. Despite the ceasefire, the clashes still continuing and there are injured or killed soldiers almost daily. All the soldiers and the volunteers who joined the army after the war events are very young.
Shushi, NKR. Liberal Arts College Arsen Khachatryan. Larisa Davtyan and some students during their daily painting lesson. Marina Vardanyan, 30 years old, teacher of traditional music during her lesson with Erica Sargsyan (16), Larisa Zakaryan (14) and Knar Avanesyan (15).
Stepanakert, NKR. Members of Guard of Honor of NKR Army during the Sungait victims annual commemoration. The Sumgait pogrom was a pogrom that targeted the Armenian population of the seaside town of Sumgait in Soviet Azerbaijan in late February 1988. The pogrom took place during the early stages of the Karabakh movement. On February 27, 1988, mobs made up largely of ethnic Azerbaijanis formed into groups and attacked and killed Armenians on the streets and in their apartments; widespread looting and a general lack of concern from police officers allowed the situation to continue for three days.
Stepanakert, NKR. School number#1. A group of students are playing football during a break from the lessons. Being an unrecognized country, school licenses has value only in NKR and Armenia.
Stepanakert, NKR. Artsakh State University. Anna Sargsyan, 19 years old during the reharsals of a musical organized on occasion of the international women's day.
Talish, NKR. What remains of a pool room in the ceremony hall of the village. Talish is the closest village to the north frontline with Azerbaijan. On the night of apr,2 Azeri soldiers startered bombing the village and entered in some houses killing civilians. People were evacuated to Stepanakert and today in the village there are only militaries.
NKR Frontline with Azerbaijan, Agdam area. A soldier is walking into the trenches. Cans and barbed wires are use to alarm in case of an Azeri saboteurs entry. Along the contact line, the closest point between the two armies is just 25 meters and the skirmishes are increasing.
NKR Frontline with Azerbaijan, Hadrut region. A Young soldier is walking on a field on the frontline during a break of the fightings. Along the contact line, the closest point between the two armies is just 200 meters. During the 4 days war 85 Armenian-Karabakhian soldiers were killed and more than 300 were wounded. Despite the ceasefire, the clashes still continuing and there are injured or killed soldiers almost daily. All the soldiers and the volunteers who joined the army after the war events are very young.
Stepanakert, NKR. Anna Mnatsakanyan dance in the Stendhal Club, the only place open til late night in the capital. Most of the young people prefer meet in the houses or have dinner at the restaurant.
Stepanakert, NKR. A night view in the city center. There is only one night club in the city. Most of the young people prefer to meet in the houses or have dinner at the restaurant. Late night streets are quite desert.