AI-generated images
2025
In the year 2125, the indigenous Armenians of Artsakh returned to their homeland. One hundred years after their violent displacement, the great-grand-children of Artsakh’s communities are able to see their mountainous and rugged native land for the first time. These are their portraits.
Starting with portraits of several families of current-day displaced Artsakh residents, the series employs generative AI technology to create four generations of their descendants. Four generations in 100 years. In 2125, what is their connection to the land of their ancestors exiled in 2024? This question turns deeply personal as Oshagan himself is now four generations removed from his own ancestor’s exile from their indigenous lands of Western Armenia.
The portraits imagine. A possible future? A future in harmony with Azerbaijanis who have possibly been living on that land now for four generations? They imagine a de-colonization. They imagine a lack of borders.
They also dare to imagine the de-colonization of occupied Western Armenia and of occupied Palestine. As well as the indigenous lands of North American and countless others across the globe. They imagine.
