FIVE ROADS BACK HOME
An exhibition for the European Azerbaijan Society
photography by Philipp Rathmer
It is one of the world's forgotten conflicts. For almost hundred years, Armenia and Azerbaijan have fought over Nagorno-Karabakh, a border region with a majority Armenian population. the conflict between the two former Soviet republics peaked in a bloody war in 1992 that killed tens of thousands of people, in the aftermath of which Armenien troops occupied Nagorno-Karabakh and its surrounding areas, driving out most of the Azerbaijani populace.
Twenty years later, the conflict is far from over; a ceasefire secures a fragile peace, an for the victims of war and expulsion it is far from forgotten. They suffer the consequences to this day.
Philipp Rathmer travelled to Azerbaijan in July 2012 to portray victims of this unresolved conflict – people who still live in camps today – refugees in their own country.In Takhtakorpu and Guzanli, Darnagul and Gizilgum, people told him of their fate and their view of things – some very candidly, some with a certain reticence. Of course, it is only one side of the conflict – their side. But it is the side of those who had to flee an give up their homes. They therefore represent all of the victims of displacement and the world's many wars.
This Text is from the Exhibition Catalogue.
An exhibition for the European Azerbaijan Society
photography by Philipp Rathmer
It is one of the world's forgotten conflicts. For almost hundred years, Armenia and Azerbaijan have fought over Nagorno-Karabakh, a border region with a majority Armenian population. the conflict between the two former Soviet republics peaked in a bloody war in 1992 that killed tens of thousands of people, in the aftermath of which Armenien troops occupied Nagorno-Karabakh and its surrounding areas, driving out most of the Azerbaijani populace.
Twenty years later, the conflict is far from over; a ceasefire secures a fragile peace, an for the victims of war and expulsion it is far from forgotten. They suffer the consequences to this day.
Philipp Rathmer travelled to Azerbaijan in July 2012 to portray victims of this unresolved conflict – people who still live in camps today – refugees in their own country.In Takhtakorpu and Guzanli, Darnagul and Gizilgum, people told him of their fate and their view of things – some very candidly, some with a certain reticence. Of course, it is only one side of the conflict – their side. But it is the side of those who had to flee an give up their homes. They therefore represent all of the victims of displacement and the world's many wars.
This Text is from the Exhibition Catalogue.
A project I have done whilst employed at RECOM.
