Armenoui Kasparian Saraidari

OF ARMENIAN ORIGIN WHO HAVE NEVER OBTAINED ANY OTHER NATIONALITY

Of Armenian origin ​who havenever obtained any other nationality (2013)

The project title is aphrase found stamped on the early proofs of identity given to the Armenianswhen entering Greece in the 1920's. Each photograph is a set of one'sbelongings that, as the title proves, is significant to his or her profession.The expanded white area, the portrait format as well as the titles of theimages echo biographical data and identity documents. Arranged in one piecethese objects symbolise a person in his absence. These still lifes restore theloss of individuality resulted by the deportations and are an attempt toportray not only my ancestors but also a whole generation of the Armenianminority in the Ottoman Empire. If the experience of exile constitute of whomthose people were, these portraits manifest exile from a present scope.​​

SarkisKasparyan 

(1912-1970) 

Painter, born in Eskisehir, Anatolia. 

In 1917 while escaping themassacres, he got lost in Istanbul. After 8years he was reunited with hisfamily in Greece. He worked as a billboard maker and got married to ArmenouiAgazaryan.

AvedisAgazaryan 

(1889-1965) 

Barber, born in the Adana Province, Ottoman Empire.

He fought for thecreation of the independent Armenian state. In 1918 was forced toflee to Damascus and move to Greece to meet his wife Chrepsime andstart working as barber.

HonikChatzeryan 

(1893-1969)

Goldsmith,born in Selanik, Central Macedonia.


Part of a wealthy familythat left Istanbul before the Hamidian Massacres. He was specialised in theattachment of diamonds to gold and got married to Sarkis' sister, Brilliant. 

ZadikMarderosyan 

(1893-1975) 

Gunsmith, born in Izmir, Asia Minor.


Lining in an Armenian neighbourhood theybecame godparents of their neighbourSarkis' daughters.One was named after Digranoui’s sister that got lost during thedestruction of Izmir, in 1912.

Using Format