InternationalSeeing the world in red, blue, and orange
The “Tri-Color in My Eyes” photo exhibit kicks off in Yerevan
Published: Saturday February 07, 2009
“I am Armenian,” which won third place in the photo exhibit, “The Tricolor in My Eyes.”
. Nayruhi Markaryan
Yerevan - "We want society to begin loving the yerakyun (tricolor)," Arpi Dilanchian, member of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation's Youth Organization, says. "It is one of the symbols of our statehood and we have to learn to appreciate its value."
In conjunction with Army Day, which is celebrated every year in Armenia on January 28, the ARF's Youth Organization held a three-day photo exhibit-competition titled, "The Tricolor in My Eyes," which kicked off on February 2. The exhibition took place at the prestigious Gevorgyan Gallery in downtown Yerevan.
The photo exhibit-competition presented 43 original photographs depicting the Armenian flag. "Everybody sees the yerakyun differently," said another youth organizer who added that the objective was for people to start seeing the flag differently and through their own eyes. Pointing to one of the photographs on exhibit titled, "Injecting the Tricolor," a young participant wanted to highlight how differently people perceive state symbols. "Injecting the Tricolor," submitted by a young photography student depicts an arm of a man painted with blue and red veins with an orange needle injecting something into his arm. The organizers admit that they were debating whether or not to display it because they weren't sure how the public would react. "It's freedom of expression," a young woman interjected. "The point of the exhibition is for people to express how they see the yerakyun." Another photograph by the same photographer was what some of the more conservative members of the organization called a ‘provocative' picture of a woman with cleavage, with red lips sipping orange juice with a blue straw.
Most of the photographs on display were from the Armenia-Turkey World Cup qualifying soccer match that took place in Yerevan on September 6, 2008, with Turkey's President Abdullah Gul in attendance. That historic game not only prompted many people in Yerevan to view the tricolor differently but city officials also began placing the Armenian flag in key locations throughout the city. It created an unprecedented momentum in Yerevan. People were waving the tri-color flag and painting their faces red, blue, and orange.
Some of the other photographs in the exhibit were taken during April 24 commemoration ceremonies at the Genocide Memorial Complex Tzitzernakaberd and during youth marches demanding Genocide recognition.
The young activists say that with independence and statehood, Armenian society's appreciation for state symbols like the coat of arms, the national anthem, and the tricolor were not automatic. Understanding the value of statehood, the organizers feel, still needs time to take root in the country. With this photo exhibit they hope to instill the love of the yerakyun in Armenian society .
The organizers had invited several university faculties to participate. They had placed posters throughout the city calling for submissions, and they had used the Internet to advertise for the event. Even though they are a youth organization, the competition was open to everyone; there were no limitations placed on the age of those who wished to participate, but the overriding majority were indeed young people.
"One of the participants is a young woman who is taking part in an exhibition for the first time in her life and was so excited. She told us she would never have imagined being a part of something like this," Arpi explains.
During the three-day exhibit, visitors to the gallery had an opportunity to vote for their favorite photograph. The first place winner, "Power, Faith, Love," won 30,000 AMD (about $100) depicting three fists painted in red, blue, and orange. The photo in second place, "Old Armenia," was awarded 20,000 AMD; it depicted an older Armenian with a tricolor scarf on. Third place went to "I am Armenian," with a 10,000 AMD prize. It showed a young girl on her way to the Armenia-Turkey soccer match.
The ARF Youth Organization says that they hope to turn this photo exhibit into an annual event, maybe even every three months with a different theme each time to encourage the young people of Armenia to participate.
