Anush Babajanyan
Armenian photographer Anush Babajanyan is a member of the VII Photo Agency, focusing her work on social narratives related to women and children, issues of minorities, and the aftermath of the conflict in Nagorno Karabakh, among others. In addition to working extensively in the Caucasus, she also continues to photograph in Turkey, the Middle East and West Africa. Much of Anush Babajanyan’s recent activity has been dedicated to peace building processes between Armenia and Turkey. In 2016, she co-founded the #BridgingStories project that brought together young photographers from Turkey and Armenia, in an effort to bridge peace between the two nations. Anush is currently hand-making her first book, The House of Culture, about the memory of Soviet Armenian culture houses. Before joining VII, Anush co-founded and was a member of women photographers’ collective 4Plus. Anush Babajanyan’s photography has been published in The New York Times, Washington Post, National Geographic, Foreign Policy Magazine, and various other international publications.
Author's stories
The Kura-Araks watershed has united individuals living across the South Caucasus for centuries, providing a lifeline to communities on either side of human borders. However, the interests of each nation often clash, leaving many issues, like water contamination, unaddressed. Neglected, daily life grows bleaker by the day for those whose livelihoods depend on the waters. This story follows the visual connections between the lives of those living along both rivers, documenting their struggle and resilience.
Shared Waters
The Araks river laps Armenia’s southern border with Iran, flowing along a heavily patrolled fence. Growing up, Samvel Davtyan longed for a plunge into those waters flowing so close he could almost dip his feet -- just almost.