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Web-Exhibition

Portraits of Exile.
Photos of Survivors of the Genocide of Armenians.


"99 Portraits of Exile: 99 photos of Survivors of the Genocide of Armenians” opened on 24th April 2014 in Diyarbakir. It was a historical breakthrough in that part of Western Armenia, now in Turkey, where several hundred thousands of Armenians used to live at the turn of the 20th century.

The exhibition was intended to symbolically “repatriate” 99 Armenian survivors on the 99th Day of Remembrance of the 1915 Genocide.

It was made possible thanks to the partnership that has developed since 2008 between French-Armenian NGO Yerkir Europe and the Diyarbakir municipality towards reviving the regional heritage of Armenian culture and identity. The Association for Research and Archiving of Armenian Memory (ARAM), based in Marseille, was commissioned to set up that photographic exhibition on the theme of genocide and exile.



The very existence of this exhibition also sends the message that Armenian structures of the Diaspora (or from Armenia itself) may get involved in Turkey to carry the voice of Armenians. Being able to organize such events – including a commemoration of the 1915 Genocide on 24th April in Diyarbakir – showed that beyond history and commemorating, it is possible today to revive the Armenian identity in the very place where it was rooted. It may be seen as the beginning of a return to Yerkir (the land) through culture, tourism, or other…

  • SANDEKIAN Zaruhie - November 17, 1899 - Keutahia
    SANDEKIAN Zaruhie - November 17, 1899 - Keutahia
  • GULIAN Mariam - November 9, 1904 - Sivas
    GULIAN Mariam - November 9, 1904 - Sivas
  • DIRADURIAN Toros - February 3, 1901 - Palu
    DIRADURIAN Toros - February 3, 1901 - Palu
  • JAMGOTSHIAN	Karnik - October 9, 1909 - Karadéré
    JAMGOTSHIAN Karnik - October 9, 1909 - Karadéré
  • DJIRDJIRIAN Bayzar - August 16, 1890 - Muratsha
    DJIRDJIRIAN Bayzar - August 16, 1890 - Muratsha
  • BEYLERIAN - Abraham - May 2, 1905 - Bardizag
    BEYLERIAN - Abraham - May 2, 1905 - Bardizag
  • MIASERIAN Makruhie - November 9, 1913 - Erzerum
    MIASERIAN Makruhie - November 9, 1913 - Erzerum
  • YARDJANIAN Mariam - August 5, 1903 - Yozgat
    YARDJANIAN Mariam - August 5, 1903 - Yozgat
  • AMERIGIAN Antranig - May 7, 1886 - Mush
    AMERIGIAN Antranig - May 7, 1886 - Mush
  • STEPANIAN Mathilde - May 18, 1901 - Alep
    STEPANIAN Mathilde - May 18, 1901 - Alep
  • ARBOYAN	Ardashes - September 9, 1906 - Gurine
    ARBOYAN Ardashes - September 9, 1906 - Gurine
  • SHAHINIAN Karekin - January 13, 1909 - Palu
    SHAHINIAN Karekin - January 13, 1909 - Palu
  • KLANIAN Almast - April 7, 1905 - Palu
    KLANIAN Almast - April 7, 1905 - Palu
  • ARZUMANIAN Mariam - February 11, 1894 - Muratsha
    ARZUMANIAN Mariam - February 11, 1894 - Muratsha
  • BALIAN Nazareth - August 4, 1915 - Afion Karahisar
    BALIAN Nazareth - August 4, 1915 - Afion Karahisar
  • DIRADURIAN Garabed - May 7, 1896 - Palu
    DIRADURIAN Garabed - May 7, 1896 - Palu
  • MINASIAN Setrak - January 9, 1903 - Kayseri
    MINASIAN Setrak - January 9, 1903 - Kayseri
  • BAKALIAN	Nichan - July 17, 1896 - Diyarbakir
    BAKALIAN Nichan - July 17, 1896 - Diyarbakir
  • KEZERIAN	Heghiné - February 17, 1896 - Sivas
    KEZERIAN Heghiné - February 17, 1896 - Sivas
  • DJANOIAN	 Rebecca - November 17, 1861 - Marash
    DJANOIAN Rebecca - November 17, 1861 - Marash
  • YEREMIAN Pesadur - April 7, 1908 - Palu
    YEREMIAN Pesadur - April 7, 1908 - Palu
  • ARTIN-KEUSEYAN Sahak - September 17, 1899 - Sivas
    ARTIN-KEUSEYAN Sahak - September 17, 1899 - Sivas
  • DAGIAN Zabel - May 15, 1909 - Palu
    DAGIAN Zabel - May 15, 1909 - Palu
  • YEREVANIAN Bedros - March 7, 1912 - Adana
    YEREVANIAN Bedros - March 7, 1912 - Adana
  • BALAKIAN Krikoris -  February 4, 1877 - Tokat
    BALAKIAN Krikoris - February 4, 1877 - Tokat
  • ARAKELIAN Suzan - June 4, 1909 - Bakishehir
    ARAKELIAN Suzan - June 4, 1909 - Bakishehir
  • MURADIAN Mardiros - December 17, 1907  - Kluglu – Kharput
    MURADIAN Mardiros - December 17, 1907 - Kluglu – Kharput
  • PAPAZIAN	Vahram - September 22, 1895  - Ismit
    PAPAZIAN Vahram - September 22, 1895 - Ismit
  • GOSHCARIAN Boghos - April 12, 1906 - Kharput
    GOSHCARIAN Boghos - April 12, 1906 - Kharput
  • YEGHIAZARIAN	Garabed - December 6, 1902 - Palu
    YEGHIAZARIAN Garabed - December 6, 1902 - Palu
  • KAZARIAN	Hagop - April 6, 1902 - Bartin
    KAZARIAN Hagop - April 6, 1902 - Bartin
  • DAGIAN Sultan - November 1, 1910 - Palu
    DAGIAN Sultan - November 1, 1910 - Palu
  • HAYRABEDIAN	Artin - September 14, 1890 - Muratsha
    HAYRABEDIAN Artin - September 14, 1890 - Muratsha
  • DAGIAN Baidzar - March 10, 1912 - Palu
    DAGIAN Baidzar - March 10, 1912 - Palu
  • MARABIAN Sarkis - April 12, 1904 - Palu
    MARABIAN Sarkis - April 12, 1904 - Palu
  • ARZUMANIAN Dikran - June 9, 1888 - Muratsha
    ARZUMANIAN Dikran - June 9, 1888 - Muratsha
  • DJIRDJIRIAN Sarkis - April 18, 1906 - Muratsha
    DJIRDJIRIAN Sarkis - April 18, 1906 - Muratsha
  • TOSUNIAN Lusaper - June 2, 1912 - Afion Karahisar
    TOSUNIAN Lusaper - June 2, 1912 - Afion Karahisar
  • BEDIGIAN	Turfanda - 1 January 1881 - Palu
    BEDIGIAN Turfanda - 1 January 1881 - Palu
  • MINASIAN Garabed - May 9, 1886 - Kayseri
    MINASIAN Garabed - May 9, 1886 - Kayseri
  • NALBANDIAN	Hovsep	April 6, 1903 	Erzerum
    NALBANDIAN Hovsep April 6, 1903 Erzerum
  • BALIAN - Iskui	August 4, 1890 - Afion Karahisar
    BALIAN - Iskui August 4, 1890 - Afion Karahisar
  • VOSKERITSHIAN Neshan - May 21, 1911 - Kharput
    VOSKERITSHIAN Neshan - May 21, 1911 - Kharput
  • DER BOGHOSIAN Varastade - October 9, 1910 - Keghie
    DER BOGHOSIAN Varastade - October 9, 1910 - Keghie
  • OHANIAN	Haïg - November 7, 1915 - Ereghi
    OHANIAN Haïg - November 7, 1915 - Ereghi
  • KURKDJIAN Hemayag - January 31, 1898 - Sivas
    KURKDJIAN Hemayag - January 31, 1898 - Sivas
  • BAKALIAN	Siranush - August 25, 1905 - Erzerum
    BAKALIAN Siranush - August 25, 1905 - Erzerum
  • AGHADJANIAN	Hayganush - November 29, 1892 - Kharput
    AGHADJANIAN Hayganush - November 29, 1892 - Kharput
  • BAKALIAN	Aznif - February 14, 1908 - Diyarbakir
    BAKALIAN Aznif - February 14, 1908 - Diyarbakir
  • BEDIGIAN	Nazeli - September 6, 1906 - Palu
    BEDIGIAN Nazeli - September 6, 1906 - Palu
  • DONIGIAN Garabed - August 5, 1898 Palu
    DONIGIAN Garabed - August 5, 1898 Palu
  • DERDERIAN Arsen - May 15, 1909 - Sivas
    DERDERIAN Arsen - May 15, 1909 - Sivas
  • ZADURIAN Satenik - November 29, 1907 - Kharput
    ZADURIAN Satenik - November 29, 1907 - Kharput
  • DER TOROSIAN Zaruhi - September 15, 1892 - Smyrne
    DER TOROSIAN Zaruhi - September 15, 1892 - Smyrne
  • MANABEDIAN Payladjun - December 25, 1891 - Brus
    MANABEDIAN Payladjun - December 25, 1891 - Brus
  • MANABEDIAN Aristakis - April 15, 1877 - Brus
    MANABEDIAN Aristakis - April 15, 1877 - Brus
  • DJANOIAN	 Maritza - July 12, 1906 - Marash
    DJANOIAN Maritza - July 12, 1906 - Marash
  • AVEDISIAN Vartanush - March 12, 1905 - Kharput
    AVEDISIAN Vartanush - March 12, 1905 - Kharput
  • MIRHRANIAN Kalust - April 9, 1902 - Dyarbakir
    MIRHRANIAN Kalust - April 9, 1902 - Dyarbakir

See the 99 pictures exhibition
on the Association for Research and Archiving of Armenian

The Exhibition

The exhibition is based on a selection of 99 identity photos of Armenian refugee survivors of the 1915 Genocide taken upon their arrival in Marseille between 1922 and 1926.

At the time, these identity photos were clipped to baptism certificates established by the Armenian Church of Marseille, written in French, and used as provisional birth identification by the French administration.

The photos come from the registrars of the Armenian Church of Marseille held in the collections of ARAM. There are 12 such registrars containing a total of 1,000 cards. 

Each card bears the following information: name, first name, father’s name, mother’s maiden name, place (town of village) and date of birth, name of priest who performed the baptism, name of godparent, and date of act. 

Some 200 cards display clipped-on identity photos bearing on their reverse the name and first name, as well as the date and place of birth of the person in a town or village of Anatolia or other parts of Ottoman Turkey.

 

 

Photographs

These identity shots are staring at us, telling the unspeakable, unique story of each refugee. They are not art portraits, but photographs freezing in time and space a moment in the fate of exiles, and which let us to recover a fragment of lost identity.

Each photograph is coupled with the birth and baptism certificate delivered by the Armenian Church of Marseille. It was sufficient proof in the eyes of the French administration to attest the identity of Armenian refugees, far from their birthplace. 

This baptism certificate “certified by an Armenian authority” provided the refugee with an official identity. For those without a Nansen passport or a passport from the just born Turkish Republic, and sometimes only holding papers from the former Ottoman authority written in Osmanli (Ottoman Turkish), these certificates enabled French authorities to establish official identity matriculation serving as residence permit under the stateless Armenian status, as a Turkish-born foreigner.

In any time or place, obtaining identity papers marks a crucial step for the displaced or deported person, a genocide or war refugee, along his journey of exile. With them, he can look for work and earn a living, start giving some sense to his life and rebuilding himself.

Here are the pictures of 99 faces of miracle survivors who, 99 years ago, went through horrifying, inhuman ordeals. They experienced being torn from their loved ones and their homeland, with fear, hunger, thirst, and death inflicted on a daily basis. These survivors have striven with all their might to rebuild their lives in dignity.

Being able to pronounce one’s name aloud to a civil servant or employer is clear proof that you are really alive, and that you were physically born somewhere far from France – elsewhere. That elsewhere was of course their homeland, Anatolia, Western Armenia, the land where all the events started. This exhibition brings back home portraits of the generation of Armenians who, throughout their lives in France, never stopped thinking about the land of their youth.




From stateless to refugee aliens to citizens…

The exodus of Armenian refugees did not happen at the very time massacres were raging, but slightly later, when the Armenian people realized that there was no way they could go on living in the land administered by their tormentors. This is why the migration of Armenians from Turkey to France soared massively in 1922. 

First considered stateless after the 1918 Armistice, the Office for Refugees of the League of Nations finally granted them refugee status through the “Nansen passport” in 1922.

They were then redirected towards European countries in need of a workforce and who had developed some ties with that particular community.

France had undergone considerable demographic losses during World War I, and seemed an obvious place to absorb part of that Diaspora. It has often been noted that the French presence in Syria or Lebanon, a land of exile for many Armenians, had made France closer and more open to that distressed population.

Therefore, Armenians came to France in large numbers and found there the work they needed to make a fresh start. Marseille welcomed them with a wealth of job opportunities. On the docks, as well as in all sorts of thriving industries such as sugar refineries, oil or soap factories, Armenians found employment.

As soon as they came ashore, in the port of Marseille, they were gathered in refugee camps, the largest of which, Camp Oddo, had 5,000 residents from 1922 to 1927. Meanwhile, they started to settle in the working-class neighbourhoods of French cities, near factory plants. Soon they would move on to still country-like suburbs where they proceeded to build new homelands.

In the French cities of Marseille, Valence, Lyon and Paris, many neighbourhoods epitomize that peaceful conquest and effort to grow new roots. Armenian churches and schools were built alongside the houses. During that period, the Diaspora structured itself and managed both to integrate the French Republic and remain faithful to its language, its culture and its history.

Ultimately, Armenians strengthened their presence, developed their entrepreneurship and, from one generation to the next became full-fledged citizens, participating in the economic and democratic life, holding in high respect the institutions which many of them would soon to take an active part in.

   
   

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