Workshop Zines: Yerevan
This October we held a two-day zine workshop in Yerevan within the framework of the 1st Edition of Yerevan Photography Festival
I haven’t picked up a camera with joy in three years, by Sona Mnatsakanyan
This zine is an attempt to rediscover the joy of photography, which had been suppressed by the expectations placed on a young photographer. By revisiting her archives from the time when she was primarily photographing her friends and recontextualizing her work in a new setting, Sona reflects on her relationship with the medium and how it has evolved over the past years.
“… At a certain point people around me began to see me as a photographer offering work and inviting me to exhibitions. From then on, photography gradually became something I felt I had to do — something expected of me and something that need to be a source of income. This shift eventually led me to stop taking photos, and I haven’t picked up a camera with joy in three years.”
A bright and energetic orange poster, serving as the sleeve for the zine, leaves us with a sense of vitality and joy.
My Tattoo by Mark, by Ilya Rodin
This zine tells the story of Ilya’s roommate, Mark, one of the many Russians who emigrated to Armenia in 2022 to escape mobilization for the war in Ukraine. Mark was a young tattoo artist and cyclist from Moscow. Tragically, he died in a bike crash outside Yerevan. Ilya constructs an intricate, puzzle-like narrative to explore their relationship and reflect on Mark’s life. The viewer is invited to take multiple paths to uncover the story in all its complexity. The zine features Mark’s friend Lisa wearing his clothes after his death, his custom-made creations, tattoo sketches, photographs from their shared flat, and messages exchanged between friends about the circumstances of his untimely passing.
All of these fragments come together in Ilya’s tattoo—a bird flying downward—etched on his chest by Mark himself.
Fists of Fury, by Arman Harutyunyan
Arman’s pictures are charged—charged with strong emotions and, at times, fury. They are taken in the city with friends, acquaintances, and strangers, as well as in the Armenian countryside, where he often captures raw and striking glimpses of local daily life.
Through a strong edit and sequence, the zine guides the viewer on a journey from the city to the countryside and back again.
Artificial Twins, by Andrey Bats
Andrey took pictures of himself appearing as an identical twin in every photo. “The series expresses dealing with the loneliness produced by the experience of misunderstanding and alienation of a queer person. Point is that the closest and most supporting person is yourself.” The zine (or rather a book in this case) is designed to enhance the effect of duplication, starting with a mirrored cover that reflects the first solo and the last triple portraits.
A Japanese fold allows some images to be split, offering a perspective on the solo/double vision of self. This continuous stream of twin pictures evolves into an unexpected triplet set on the final pages, further duplicated in the last spread thanks to the mirrored back cover. (Current dummy uses silver paper due to the lack of mirror paper)
Sec Vol.1, by Pësik
Sound Enthusiastic Community is a space in Yerevan dedicated to exploring sound, creating music, and producing sound art. Alex (Pësik) joined the community as soon as he came across their manifesto.
This tiny zine, designed to resemble a cassette tape, presents Alex’s vision of the community. It is lively, vibrant, and chaotic: the pictures rotate, inviting the viewer to open the zine from either the front or back and simply immerse themselves in the vibe.
