Armenia, 2009

Armenia also has a proud and long history, being the first country to be a state-declared Christian nation (in the 1st century AD I think). It has all the characteristics of a small nation (3 million) that has – like Georgia – suffered many conflicts and yet managed to hold onto its identity. This is felt even more acutely in Armenia and among its large diaspora.

In the short time I was there, I had a chance to explore the Cascades – a real treat for a sculptophile like me. Here too, there are stories. One is of a flower-seller who every day used to give free blooms to the beautiful women who passed on the street. As a tribute to his generosity, when he died, the city erected a statue of him.

Both Armenia and Georgia retain the imprint of their communist past, but the people have (for the most part) moved on. It’s almost as if the building still stands, but has been completely renovated and redesigned. The State is most visible now in the excessive presence of the traffic police, as if the exercising of authority had to find an outlet somewhere.