GEORGS AVETISJANS

George Avetisyan ©

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1. Georgs Avetisjans | Far Beyond the Polar Circle from Lost Horizon Films on Vimeo.
   
   

   Kickstarter
   

   We have just launched the Kickstarter campaign "Motherland. Far Beyond the Polar Circle" - a journey far beyond the polar circle that brings to light memories of Soviet deportees and and modern-day accounts through a photobook

   www.farbeyondthepolarcircle.com
   
   
   COMING SOON

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   Motherland. Far Beyond the Polar Circle
   2019 - ongoing
   
   This is the story of a town, which was built upon the bones of Soviet prisoners, a city in which many deported Latvians once lived. My mum was born in Igarka in 1952, which is in Siberia, in Russia, 163 km north of the Arctic Circle. On June 14, 1941 my grandma was deported to Siberia. She lived there until the summer of 1956 and hasn‘t spoken about it ever since. There was just a sense of wisdom and misunderstanding about the past, much like the landscapes that hold this dark and silent history and testimonies frozen in time.
   
   Grandma’s first husband was the First Commander of the Guard Squadron of the independent Latvia. He was considered an enemy of the USSR and taken to Sevurallag, the Soviet gulag camp in Sverdlovsk region where he died from cold, starvation and humiliation in the winter of January 31, 1942. He was separated from my grandma as most of the men from their families and wives with a promising hope to meet again. After many years of surviving alone in Siberia, my grandma met my grandpa in Igarka. He was from Smolensk in Russia and expelled on July 29, 1950 from Johvi, Estonia.
   
   During the next deportations in 1948-1951, thousands more civilians were forcefully moved to Igarka from their homeland and newly occupied territories of the USSR. Many of them died from the cold and poor conditions in the winter of 1948-1949.
   
   I went to Igarka during the winter of 2019-2020 when the average temperature was -40C, to pay tribute to those who survive, survived or sadly didn’t, and to those who still live there and were forced to start living there 70 or more years ago in these weather conditions.
   
   In the last decades, the seemingly infinite landscapes of the Yenisei River and Siberian taiga have led Igarka and Northern Siberia in Russia to be seen as a place of romance. But the vast expanse holds many memories of the millions whose lives were affected by Stalin’s Gulag labour system. Today, of course, the community in Igarka has its own hopes and dreams for the future. Residents hope for the revival of the railway, they hope that one day they will become the oil capital of Siberia with many new jobs in oil, mineral and natural gas fields, they hope for the revival of the agriculture and timber industry, expansion of the airport and free fishing without the regulatory burdens of today.
   
   I used a Soviet-made medium format camera - the Salut - with Mir lenses which could become just as unreliable as the whole Soviet system and therefore added additional conceptual significance to the project.
   
   This is a chapter of the trilogy in which each part deals separately with the notions and meanings of Homeland, Fatherland and Motherland from a deeply personal and autobiographical perspective.

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   "In this body of work, Avetisjans oscillates between the past and the present and his documentary-style photography is dominated by this sharp dual vision that exposes secrets guarded in the past. He shows how today the community of Igarka has its own hopes and dreams for the future: the revival of railway and agriculture, to become the oil capital of Siberia, and the expansion of its airport. Yet these contemporary images stand in contrast to governmental records and archival material. By tracing the painful account of his own family, Avetisjans shares snapshots of the seemingly infinite landscapes of Northern Siberia and its inhabitants. While now often romanticized, this vast expanse holds many recollections that the artist excavates and, in so doing, he brings these narratives to the surface."
   
   Javiera Luisina Cádiz Bedini
   (Curator of the exhibition "Broken Secrets")
   Fondazione Modena Arti Visive / fmav.org/
   
   brokensecrets.parallelplatform.org
   parallelplatform.org/

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   Photobook dummy /
   Motherland. Far Beyond the Polar Circle
   2018 - 2021
   

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   The first edition of this dummy was produced in association with the Photobook Masterclass 2021 with Paulius Petraitis (Paul Paper) by Kaunas Photography Gallery and Parallel – European Photo Based Platform.
   
   The dummies were sewn and bound by Andrėja Taranda and Elachi, silkscreen and riso print by Gabrielė Gudaitytė, Hands on Press and the boxes were made by Inga Navickaitė Drasutė, Hands on Press in Kaunas, Lithuania
   
   The dummies with the inclusive materials were printed at iPrint, Popieriaus salonas and Hands on Press (Kaunas, Lithuania)
   
   Edition of 2

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   Broken Secrets (curated by Javiera Luisina Cádiz Bedini), Fondazione Modena Arti Visive (FMAV), Modena, Italy, 2021 (Images by Rolando Paolo Guerzoni)

   

   Broken Secrets (curated by Javiera Luisina Cádiz Bedini), Fondazione Modena Arti Visive (FMAV), Modena, Italy, 2021 (Images by Rolando Paolo Guerzoni)

   

   Broken Secrets (curated by Javiera Luisina Cádiz Bedini), Fondazione Modena Arti Visive (FMAV), Modena, Italy, 2021 (Images by Rolando Paolo Guerzoni)

   

   Broken Secrets (curated by Javiera Luisina Cádiz Bedini), Fondazione Modena Arti Visive (FMAV), Modena, Italy, 2021 (Images by Rolando Paolo Guerzoni)

   

   Broken Secrets (curated by Javiera Luisina Cádiz Bedini), Fondazione Modena Arti Visive (FMAV), Modena, Italy, 2021 (Images by Rolando Paolo Guerzoni)

   

   Broken Secrets (curated by Javiera Luisina Cádiz Bedini), Fondazione Modena Arti Visive (FMAV), Modena, Italy, 2021 (Images by Rolando Paolo Guerzoni)

   

   Broken Secrets (curated by Javiera Luisina Cádiz Bedini), Fondazione Modena Arti Visive (FMAV), Modena, Italy, 2021 (Images by Rolando Paolo Guerzoni)

   

   Broken Secrets (curated by Javiera Luisina Cádiz Bedini), Fondazione Modena Arti Visive (FMAV), Modena, Italy, 2021 (Images by Rolando Paolo Guerzoni)

   

   Under (De)construction (curated by Jenny Lindhe), Parallel Intersection Landskrona, Landskrona Foto, Landskrona, Sweden, 2020

   

   Under (De)construction (curated by Jenny Lindhe), Parallel Intersection Landskrona, Landskrona Foto, Landskrona, Sweden, 2020

   

   Under (De)construction (curated by Jenny Lindhe), Parallel Intersection Landskrona, Landskrona Foto, Landskrona, Sweden, 2020

   

   Broken Secrets (curated by Javiera Luisina Cádiz Bedini), Emoplux, European Month of Photography, Polandneimënster - Centre Culturel de Rencontre Abbaye de Neumünster, Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, 2021

   

   Broken Secrets (curated by Javiera Luisina Cádiz Bedini), Emoplux, European Month of Photography, Polandneimënster - Centre Culturel de Rencontre Abbaye de Neumünster, Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, 2021

   

   Broken Secrets (curated by Javiera Luisina Cádiz Bedini), Emoplux, European Month of Photography, Polandneimënster - Centre Culturel de Rencontre Abbaye de Neumünster, Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, 2021

   

   Broken Secrets (curated by Javiera Luisina Cádiz Bedini), Emoplux, European Month of Photography, Polandneimënster - Centre Culturel de Rencontre Abbaye de Neumünster, Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, 2021

   

   Broken Secrets (curated by Javiera Luisina Cádiz Bedini), Emoplux, European Month of Photography, Polandneimënster - Centre Culturel de Rencontre Abbaye de Neumünster, Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, 2021

   

   Broken Secrets (curated by Javiera Luisina Cádiz Bedini), Parallel Review, Fotofestiwal Łódź, Łódź, Poland, 2021

   

   Broken Secrets (curated by Javiera Luisina Cádiz Bedini), Parallel Review, Fotofestiwal Łódź, Łódź, Poland, 2021

   

   Broken Secrets (curated by Javiera Luisina Cádiz Bedini), Parallel Review, Fotofestiwal Łódź, Łódź, Poland, 2021

   

   Broken Secrets (curated by Javiera Luisina Cádiz Bedini), Parallel Review, Fotofestiwal Łódź, Łódź, Poland, 2021

   

   Motherland. Far Beyond the Polar Circle, Nida Photography Symposium, Nida, Lithuania, 2021
   

   

   Motherland. Far Beyond the Polar Circle, Nida Photography Symposium, Nida, Lithuania, 2021
   

   

   Motherland. Far Beyond the Polar Circle, Nida Photography Symposium, Nida, Lithuania, 2021
   

   

   Motherland. Far Beyond the Polar Circle, Nida Photography Symposium, Nida, Lithuania, 2021
   

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     Broken Secrets (curated by Javiera Luisina Cádiz Bedini), Fondazione Modena Arti Visive (FMAV), Modena, Italy, 2021 (Images by Rolando Paolo Guerzoni)

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     Broken Secrets (curated by Javiera Luisina Cádiz Bedini), Fondazione Modena Arti Visive (FMAV), Modena, Italy, 2021 (Images by Rolando Paolo Guerzoni)

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     Broken Secrets (curated by Javiera Luisina Cádiz Bedini), Fondazione Modena Arti Visive (FMAV), Modena, Italy, 2021 (Images by Rolando Paolo Guerzoni)

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     Broken Secrets (curated by Javiera Luisina Cádiz Bedini), Fondazione Modena Arti Visive (FMAV), Modena, Italy, 2021 (Images by Rolando Paolo Guerzoni)

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     Broken Secrets (curated by Javiera Luisina Cádiz Bedini), Fondazione Modena Arti Visive (FMAV), Modena, Italy, 2021 (Images by Rolando Paolo Guerzoni)

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     Broken Secrets (curated by Javiera Luisina Cádiz Bedini), Fondazione Modena Arti Visive (FMAV), Modena, Italy, 2021 (Images by Rolando Paolo Guerzoni)

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     Broken Secrets (curated by Javiera Luisina Cádiz Bedini), Fondazione Modena Arti Visive (FMAV), Modena, Italy, 2021 (Images by Rolando Paolo Guerzoni)

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     Broken Secrets (curated by Javiera Luisina Cádiz Bedini), Fondazione Modena Arti Visive (FMAV), Modena, Italy, 2021 (Images by Rolando Paolo Guerzoni)

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     Under (De)construction (curated by Jenny Lindhe), Parallel Intersection Landskrona, Landskrona Foto, Landskrona, Sweden, 2020

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     Under (De)construction (curated by Jenny Lindhe), Parallel Intersection Landskrona, Landskrona Foto, Landskrona, Sweden, 2020

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     Under (De)construction (curated by Jenny Lindhe), Parallel Intersection Landskrona, Landskrona Foto, Landskrona, Sweden, 2020

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     Broken Secrets (curated by Javiera Luisina Cádiz Bedini), Emoplux, European Month of Photography, Polandneimënster - Centre Culturel de Rencontre Abbaye de Neumünster, Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, 2021

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     Broken Secrets (curated by Javiera Luisina Cádiz Bedini), Emoplux, European Month of Photography, Polandneimënster - Centre Culturel de Rencontre Abbaye de Neumünster, Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, 2021

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     Broken Secrets (curated by Javiera Luisina Cádiz Bedini), Emoplux, European Month of Photography, Polandneimënster - Centre Culturel de Rencontre Abbaye de Neumünster, Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, 2021

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     Broken Secrets (curated by Javiera Luisina Cádiz Bedini), Emoplux, European Month of Photography, Polandneimënster - Centre Culturel de Rencontre Abbaye de Neumünster, Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, 2021

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     Broken Secrets (curated by Javiera Luisina Cádiz Bedini), Emoplux, European Month of Photography, Polandneimënster - Centre Culturel de Rencontre Abbaye de Neumünster, Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, 2021

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     Broken Secrets (curated by Javiera Luisina Cádiz Bedini), Parallel Review, Fotofestiwal Łódź, Łódź, Poland, 2021

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     Broken Secrets (curated by Javiera Luisina Cádiz Bedini), Parallel Review, Fotofestiwal Łódź, Łódź, Poland, 2021

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     Broken Secrets (curated by Javiera Luisina Cádiz Bedini), Parallel Review, Fotofestiwal Łódź, Łódź, Poland, 2021

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     Broken Secrets (curated by Javiera Luisina Cádiz Bedini), Parallel Review, Fotofestiwal Łódź, Łódź, Poland, 2021

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     Motherland. Far Beyond the Polar Circle, Nida Photography Symposium, Nida, Lithuania, 2021
     

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     Motherland. Far Beyond the Polar Circle, Nida Photography Symposium, Nida, Lithuania, 2021
     

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     Motherland. Far Beyond the Polar Circle, Nida Photography Symposium, Nida, Lithuania, 2021
     

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     Motherland. Far Beyond the Polar Circle, Nida Photography Symposium, Nida, Lithuania, 2021
     

   Exhibitions /
   Motherland. Far Beyond the Polar Circle
   2019 - 2021
   

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   2023 *Coming Soon* "Motherland. Far Beyond the Polar Circle" Latvian Railway History Museum, Riga, Latvia
   2022 Plat(t)form 2022 Fotomuseum Winterthur, Winterthur, Switzerland
   2021 Photobook dummy exhibition, Nida Photography Symposium, Nida, Lithuania
   2021 Broken Secrets curated by Javiera Luisina Cádiz Bedini, Fondazione Modena Arti Visive (FMAV), Modena, Italy
   2021 Broken Secrets curated by Javiera Luisina Cádiz Bedini, Emoplux, European Month of Photography, Polandneimënster - Centre Culturel de Rencontre Abbaye de Neumünster, Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg
   2021 Broken Secrets curated by Javiera Luisina Cádiz Bedini, Parallel Review, Fotofestiwal Łódź, Łódź, Poland
   2020 *Canceled due to Covid-19* Broken Secrets curated by Javiera Luisina Cádiz Bedini, Parallel Review, Campo de Santa Clara, Lisbon, Portugal
   2020 *Now Open Online* Broken Secrets curated by Javiera Luisina Cádiz Bedini, Fondazione Modena Arti Visive (FMAV), Modena, Italy
   2020 Under (De)construction curated by Jenny Lindhe, Parallel Intersection Landskrona, Landskrona Foto, Landskrona, Sweden