Last month, Dalan Art Gallery in Yerevan hosted an exhibition of photographs by Artsakh-born photographer Nare Arushanyan. Titled “Echoes of Home,” the show featured poignant depictions of life in Artsakh and the forced displacement of its people.
Originally, these images were simply moments Arushanyan wanted to remember. Over time, they evolved into stories. She documented people’s experiences during the blockade and displacement from Artsakh, capturing fragments of life that might otherwise have been lost. The photographs came together as a collective memory in this debut solo exhibition.
The idea for the exhibit was born in the aftermath of the recent war in Artsakh and the subsequent blockade. “When we moved from Artsakh, I had a lot of photos from those days. I wanted people to see them, to understand what we went through,” she told attendees.
At the heart of the exhibition are fragments of everyday life—ranging from chance encounters on city streets to families caught in the middle of war. The photographs were taken without elaborate preparation, driven by the desire to capture and preserve fleeting moments of reality.
“During the blockade, we helped people—we delivered bread to those with health problems. It became something ordinary for me. Later, when we were already here, I still wanted to help, I just didn’t know how,” Arushanyan shared.