Artist Statement:
If you know anything about the Armenian people, you know that they are proud, passionate and resilient. They have survived all kinds of unimaginable hardships throughout history, including genocide. Each generation has emphasized to the next how important it is to preserve the Armenian culture because at one point it was almost destroyed, and it still continues to face such cruelty today. Over time, the Armenian people have formed a very specific image of survival, and anything that strays from that image is considered a threat.
This is why Anti-LGBTQ sentiments are highly prevalent in Armenia and in the Armenian diaspora. In a 2017 study on religious and national belonging in Central and Eastern Europe, Pew Research Center reported that 97% of Armenians believe homosexuality should not be accepted by society. These negative views are particularly harmful to LGBTQ Armenians as they struggle to understand and accept themselves for who they are. Many of them suffer from internalized homophobia/transphobia for a majority of their lives.
These images stray from the traditional image of survival, and therefore may be perceived as a threat by some. That, however, will be an inevitable consequence and not the true purpose of this project. The purpose of this project is not to outrage. The purpose is not to change anyone’s minds, either. The purpose is to comfort and empower LGBTQ Armenians, who often don’t feel “Armenian enough” because of their sexuality. It’s to let them know that their intersecting Armenian and LGBTQ identities are beautiful, not shameful.
Producer: Angel
Assistant: Phoenix
Taraz: Arevik
Peerspace: Friday Bazaar
