Yerevan
He began his career as a photojournalist for a local news agency and it was the scarcity of opportunities in his own country that impressed Nazik Armenakyan . In 2012 he founded 4plus: a pioneering photography collective that seeks to elevate documentary photography as a professional sphere, establishing a dialogue around the key issues that most affect Armenia.
This interview is part of "The World Made Local" , a global project of Condé Nast Traveler in the seven international editions, which gives voice to 100 people in 100 countries to discover why their own territory should be your next destination.
Why should we travel to Armenia?
We may be a small country but we have many layers. In this small and narrow piece of land, there is a great energy that has been accumulating over the years and that forms the aura of the Armenia that we know today. Its people, culture, language, mountains, fields and food... these are its main components and this is what should attract people to Armenia.
Where can you enjoy culture in Yerevan, the country's capital?
you have to visit the Sergei Parakhanov Museum , dedicated to the Armenian director and artist, famous for his films The Fire Steeds (1965) and The Color of Pomegranates (1969). The museum is also perfect for creative contemplations, it has a special atmosphere that dominates it and new things are always discovered with each visit.
You can also go to the house of the painter and ethnographer Lusik Aguletsi , famous for being the last Armenian to walk the streets of Yerevan wearing the traditional dress of the country, she also has a cozy cafe, Art Cafe, which serves very tasty traditional food.
And of course the space 4Plus in Yerevan is one of my favorite places, perfect to work and create.
Nazik Armenakyan
Apart from Yerevan, which places should we visit in Armenia?
I recommend you go to my favorite regions: Tavush, Syunik and Lori . There is a lot to discover there. For example, you can go to Berkaber, in the Tavush region, which is between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Both its landscapes and its people are wonderful and it is incredible how they use the natural resources that surround them so efficiently.
Syunik, which is the southern region of the country, has some fantastic scenery. The great mountains in Meghri village they seem to be dancing kochari, a traditional local dance. Many tropical fruits grow here, and as you walk through its cobbled streets you can pick figs, kiwis, bananas, tangerines and pomegranates.
In Lora is paradise on earth. It is rich in historical and cultural sites, including the Haghpat Monastery.
What excites you about Armenia?
I like to drive and discover new and unknown places, like the modernist architecture of Sevan Writers' Resort , on the shore of Lake Sevan.
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