Magazine, The Immigrant Experience, Byline by Karine Armen
David Karamian is an Armenian-American who published the photography book Armenia—The Lone Stone in 2022. He has presented his book in New York City, Los Angeles, and the Bay Area.
Armenia—The Lone Stone is a hardcover coffee table book with 358 pages of text, poetry, and color and black-and-white photographs printed on high-quality paper. The photos of monasteries and monuments in Armenia and Artsakh were taken from 2005 to 2022 during Karamian’s repeated visits. The text is in English and Armenian, featuring poems by Sayat Nova, Komitas, Silva Kapoutikyan, and other notable Armenian poets. The book also includes paintings by Armenian artists, with attributions to Wikimedia.
Karamian, who studied Mechanical Engineering, has passionately merged his technical expertise with the arts. His career spanned over thirty years in design systems and consulting for Fortune 10 companies. He contributed to Black and White Photography Magazine and UNESCO affiliateScene4 Magazine.
The book starts with a preface where Karamian shares his personal story, highlighting his struggles to learn about his cultural background and his appreciation for a place he could never see while living in Iran. During a presentation, he said, “Without my personal story and struggles with cultural identity, it would have been just another book about Armenia. By including how these elements have shaped my character, I wanted to make it unique.” The book encompasses 24 sections, with Karamian emphasizing, “I don’t want to focus only on the [Armenian] Genocide. The world can learn about our rich history, literature, and music.” He aims for non-Armenians and the new generation to appreciate Armenian culture.
In the introduction section of the book, Karamian reflects on the resilience and pride of the Armenian people, quoting Hrant Matevosyan: “If the Earth becomes a cemetery, the last person to lay flowers will be an Armenian.” He describes Armenia as a paradise envisioned by God, with its stunning landscapes and rich history. Despite facing genocide, war, and natural disasters, Armenians have maintained their national identity and formed an influential diaspora. Karamian highlights the country’s many talented individuals and emphasizes the harmonious values of homeland, religion, science, and art. He remains very optimistic about the future of Armenia, seeing it as a testament to the unwavering love and devotion of its people.
Born in Tehran, Karamian grew up in an Armenian family and learned about Armenia’s brutal history from a substitute teacher in second grade. Visiting Armenia was a lifelong dream that he fulfilled in 2005. Touched by his experience, he photographed many churches, monasteries, and historical monuments. Through his book, Karamian thoughtfully weaves his personal story with striking images of cultural treasures, showcasing storytelling as an art form.
Karamian’s photographs reflect the mood of their settings. His pictures in Gyumri have dark gray tones. The white Ghazanchetsots Cathedral in Shushi contrasts with a gray sky, and the church’s interior paintings are in bold colors. Capturing the mountains and valleys in black and white creates intense texture, contrast, and lines. The Garni Temple, shot from different angles in black-and-white, emphasizes its architectural beauty.
The book’s accompanying text is well-researched, serving both as an academic study and travel inspiration. Each chapter starts with detailed information about the locations and structures. Yerevan’s Matenadaran—the Mesrop Mashtots Research Institute of Ancient Manuscripts—is shown with initial photos of the building and detailed images of surrounding statues. Karamian uses color for photos of the Dadivank Monastery, Sardarapat Memorial, and Karahunj (Zorats Karer), with brown, yellow, and orange hues juxtaposed with blue skies, demonstrating his awareness of complementary colors in art.
Though the preface includes his personal story, Karamian states that the book is not a memoir. He is currently working on a second volume of Armenia—The Lone Stone and a book highlighting his abstract photographs.
Armenia—The Lone Stone is a well-designed book. It may seem overwhelming at first glance, but mindful study reveals its actual value. Karamian’s passion for his culture is evident, using his photos and text to give a voice to Armenian culture and history.
https://caucasusheritage.cornell.edu/
https://www.norartgallery.com/
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Photos by Karine Armen
