In the frames of the first SunChild Festival Jakob Majarian's first individual exhibition is presented to the audience. Jack is a member of the Foundation for the Preservation of Wildlife and Cultural Assets in the Republic of Armenia (FPWC), he also participated in SunChild Summer Camp sharing his experience of wildlife photography with the children.
About Jacob Majarian
Jacob Majarian was found tied up in a garbage bag in the back of a Ferrari, was found in a woven reed basket by the banks of the Nile by the Pharoh's daughter, was put together from spare part's of dead bodies by Dr Frankenstien, and is a direct descendant of the great flood. (Choose one or all).
You can believe what you wish but he was born in the city of Amman, Jordan, October 28th, 1962. He migrated to Sydney, Australia, with his parents in 1970.
What an artist has done previous to or apart from his/her passion is best left to the biographers. All you need to know is that Jacob's passion for photography is an itch he has been trying to scratch since the early 80's. If you are familiar with his publications or have visited his website, then you would have read the story, but for those who haven't we shall give a brief summary.
Jacob's first experiments with photography were with a shitty little Hanamex instamatic, armed with this relic he attempted to chase light. Sunsets, flowers, still lifes, were all victims which he shot with a novice eye. After teaching himself the rudiment's of photography by looking at pictures in photographic books (Jacob doesn't like to read more than 2 lines) he invested in a Pentax K1000 to help him find the flow. Weddings, christenings, and birthdays were an experience to help with portrait photography. The Pantex was finally superseded by an array of Nikon artillery; with his new arsenal Jacob could photograph his other main passion, motor sports. In the field of speed he learnt to take shots fast, follow a moving target and shoot from very limited angles.
As the years moved on and the equipment grew, he was given the opportunity to travel to Armenia. At the time of his first trip in 1991, he did not know that the land would eventually be a very large subject for him to capture. The accumulation of images never seemed to cease and the friendships forged kept him going back.
In 1999 he released his first calendar for the year 2000, and a new calendar has been published every year since. His first book "Armenia, pictorial treasury of an ancient land" was published in 2001 along with a series of six greeting cards. In 2002 Jacob walked a large amount of Armenia (1000 km), keeping a journal and photographing the journey. This adventure was published in 2003 through a book titled "My Limp - through Armenia". End of 2004 saw the publication of the third book "Armenia - land of contrasts". Jacob lives in Sydney, Australia, he works in the building industry to support his passion. He still travels to Armenia several times a year capturing images of people, landscape, architecture and nature for future publications to create awareness for the ever changing face of Armenia and its environment.
P.S. If you want Jacob's bio, buy a book or visit the www.majart.com.au website, according to him it all repeats after you turn 40.
By Peter Majarian, Jacob's brother
Welcome to all who are of an environmental consciousness.
My name is Jacob Majarian, one of the artists associated with SunChild. Our aim is to create awareness of our environment outside of the plastic and concrete society we find ourselves in.
I live in Australia and have been fortunate to journey through its wilderness, which has had lands protected by government and community awareness of the importance for the ecological balance that is needed for it's preservation.
I have made over 20 visits to Armenia since 1991 with time spent on these trips lasting two weeks to two months. Through this time I've witnessed an ever increasing number of discarded Coca-Cola bottles being tossed out of car windows adding litter along road sides and refuse being left scattered around makeshift picnic grounds.
My awareness of the micro cosmic world that our bushland's happened at Apsley Falls (located in Walcha, NSW, Australia) when my brother Peter noticed and directed my attention to tiny bright metallic coloured bugs on branches. I had on previous visits passed by these bugs blinded by the allure of the main tourist site. This new diversion detained me for hours and opened my senses to the amazing environment that can be found under a leaf.
My introduction to the Armenian wilderness came from my adventures with Hagop Hovhannisyan (Photographer, mountaineer) and Andre Chesnokov (Mountaineer, guide, photographer and driver). Their interests and knowledge of Armenian nature and landscape took me to altitudes and seasonal changes that surpass the average tour guide.
I hope that this festival educates or opens an awareness of the environment around you. I'm happy to be associated with individuals who place the environment over profit gain in a society influenced by land development and greed. I thank the SunChild group for including me as part of this festival.
Jacob Majarian