sandra singh // photography

one wish
(for armenia)

“one wish” (for Armenia) deals with narratives of identity in the broadest sense – what defines a nation of people? Armenia views itself as a part of Europe – geopolitically, it can be classified as falling within Europe, the Middle East, or both. Throughout its history Armenia and its people always had to change, adapt and survive.

Within this tension field of often contrary cultural, geographic and historic heritage questions about modern culture, the post-soviet status as well as the European idea surface. By collecting anonymous answers to the question “What is your wish for this country’s future?” and combining these statements with photographs and moving images taken all over the country this series aims to play with perceptions of individual ideas of realities and futures.

“one wish” is a series depicting countries at the border of the European Union as well as the brink of change. Often overlooked politically and off-the-scope in international media and press, this series collects and combines untold stories and wishes of these countries citizens for a brighter future.

"I’d wish that Armenians become more freethinking, more tolerant to other peoples wishes:
what they choose to be, what they want to do."

“For Armenia I would wish for there to be greater understanding and communication between people that are different both in Armenia and outside of Armenia. I think communication is very critical to how we live our lives and if we are able to understand each other there is a lot more progress that can be made than I can even say in one wish, it will come upon itself."

"In Armenia laws are not as respected as … I don’t know how to say it … the cultural norms. There are many things you can’t say. For example, somebody might be smoking in an area where it’s not allowed and that’s okay but saying “please don’t” is not okay. Such things happen every day. One thing I’d like to change is being honest about yourself and these things and more deeply."

"I think it’s a problem of honesty. When you consider such things very carefully you grasp the philosophy behind it, and you dig deeper you see many aspects of mentality which led to the place that you can’t do many things in Armenia and we never talk about it."

“I’d like my country to become united. The people first of all and the land also.
I’d like to see Armenia as a whole again. Artsakh and some lands that unfortunately don’t belong to us since a couple of decades or even more, and especially Mt. Ararat. In terms of people I want more love towards each other, towards life – I guess that’s the key to happier and greater Armenia."

This project is connected to

-> ararat I (working title) // -> ararat II (working title)

Realized during a residency with the Institute of Contemporary Art Yerevan, Armenia with support from the European Cultural Foundation.