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ELIA KAHVEDJIAN: PHOTOS OFFER LOOK AT PRE-STATE ISRAEL
San Francisco Gate, CA
May 28 2014
Elia Kahvedjian: Photos 'a remarkable record' of life in pre-state
Israel
by Nirmala Nataraj
Elia Kahvedjian's photographs are stunning examples of the history
that resides in the walls of Jerusalem - a history that transcends
barriers of race, ethnicity, religion and time. A new exhibition
at the Jewish Community Center of San Francisco reveals some of the
works of Kahvedjian, an Armenian refugee who lived in Israel in the
early 20th century and is easily one of the region's most influential
photographers.
Many of the black-and-white photographs paint a vivid picture of
pre-state Israel, transporting us from Christian to Muslim quarters,
Damascus Gate to the Sea of Galilee, shoe shiners to dancing Gypsies,
communal celebrations to moments of quiet prayer and reverence.
"There are lots of photos of people, seemingly unobserved, working
at their jobs," says Lenore Naxon, a curator at the JCCSF. "They form
a remarkable record of the time and place, a real step back in time."
When Kahvedjian's daughter discovered thousands of negatives in his
Jerusalem shop in 1987, she realized that Kahvedjian had amassed
not only his own photos, but 1,400 images by other photographers
that dated from 1840 to 1947, which were immediately recognized as
treasures offering us a fuller picture of Kahvedjian's life, as well
as pre-Israel Jerusalem. His Jerusalem shop, Elia Photo Services,
is still in existence as a museum.
Kahvedjian's granddaughter Laura Dirtadian says that the exhibition
captures aspects of Israel that few people see nowadays. After the
opening of the show, "There were people coming up to me who were
crying, because of the environment which was portrayed in these
photographs. You see Palestinians and Israelis and Armenians, and
they are living among one another in peace."
The photographs in the collection, especially the ones Kahvedjian
collected from earlier times, are also particularly poignant, given
that many reveal sites that no longer in exist.
Kahvedjian himself lived through great turmoil. Although details about
his life remain fuzzy, he is thought to have been born in eastern
Turkey around 1910. In 1915, many members of his family were killed
during the Armenian genocide. He spent a few years on the streets
in Turkey, but with the assistance of an American aid organization,
eventually moved to an orphanage in Nazareth. After an apprenticeship
with a photographer, he relocated to Jerusalem and took over the
business of a photographer he was working for. He died in 1999.
When Kahvedjian turned to photography, the majority of his work
comprised family portraits and wedding photos. However, Dirtadian
says, her grandfather had a deep appreciation for art, and much of
his attention was focused on stolen moments of beauty.
"He gravitated toward everyday life and routine, to scenes of serenity
and peace," she says.
Although Dirtadian only saw her grandfather twice, his story has
always been a part of her.
"His photographs remind us of our past," she said, "of our ability to
live and work with and among one another in harmony and appreciation."
This article has been corrected since it appeared in print.
If you go
Elia Kahvedjian: Through June 21. 8 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday-Thursday,
until 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Jewish Community Center of San
Francisco, Katz Snyder Gallery, 3200 California St., S.F. (415)
292-1233. www.jccsf.org.
http://www.sfgate.com/art/article/Elia-Kahvedjian-Photos-offer-look-at-pre-state-5510888.php
San Francisco Gate, CA
May 28 2014
Elia Kahvedjian: Photos 'a remarkable record' of life in pre-state
Israel
by Nirmala Nataraj
Elia Kahvedjian's photographs are stunning examples of the history
that resides in the walls of Jerusalem - a history that transcends
barriers of race, ethnicity, religion and time. A new exhibition
at the Jewish Community Center of San Francisco reveals some of the
works of Kahvedjian, an Armenian refugee who lived in Israel in the
early 20th century and is easily one of the region's most influential
photographers.
Many of the black-and-white photographs paint a vivid picture of
pre-state Israel, transporting us from Christian to Muslim quarters,
Damascus Gate to the Sea of Galilee, shoe shiners to dancing Gypsies,
communal celebrations to moments of quiet prayer and reverence.
"There are lots of photos of people, seemingly unobserved, working
at their jobs," says Lenore Naxon, a curator at the JCCSF. "They form
a remarkable record of the time and place, a real step back in time."
When Kahvedjian's daughter discovered thousands of negatives in his
Jerusalem shop in 1987, she realized that Kahvedjian had amassed
not only his own photos, but 1,400 images by other photographers
that dated from 1840 to 1947, which were immediately recognized as
treasures offering us a fuller picture of Kahvedjian's life, as well
as pre-Israel Jerusalem. His Jerusalem shop, Elia Photo Services,
is still in existence as a museum.
Kahvedjian's granddaughter Laura Dirtadian says that the exhibition
captures aspects of Israel that few people see nowadays. After the
opening of the show, "There were people coming up to me who were
crying, because of the environment which was portrayed in these
photographs. You see Palestinians and Israelis and Armenians, and
they are living among one another in peace."
The photographs in the collection, especially the ones Kahvedjian
collected from earlier times, are also particularly poignant, given
that many reveal sites that no longer in exist.
Kahvedjian himself lived through great turmoil. Although details about
his life remain fuzzy, he is thought to have been born in eastern
Turkey around 1910. In 1915, many members of his family were killed
during the Armenian genocide. He spent a few years on the streets
in Turkey, but with the assistance of an American aid organization,
eventually moved to an orphanage in Nazareth. After an apprenticeship
with a photographer, he relocated to Jerusalem and took over the
business of a photographer he was working for. He died in 1999.
When Kahvedjian turned to photography, the majority of his work
comprised family portraits and wedding photos. However, Dirtadian
says, her grandfather had a deep appreciation for art, and much of
his attention was focused on stolen moments of beauty.
"He gravitated toward everyday life and routine, to scenes of serenity
and peace," she says.
Although Dirtadian only saw her grandfather twice, his story has
always been a part of her.
"His photographs remind us of our past," she said, "of our ability to
live and work with and among one another in harmony and appreciation."
This article has been corrected since it appeared in print.
If you go
Elia Kahvedjian: Through June 21. 8 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday-Thursday,
until 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Jewish Community Center of San
Francisco, Katz Snyder Gallery, 3200 California St., S.F. (415)
292-1233. www.jccsf.org.
http://www.sfgate.com/art/article/Elia-Kahvedjian-Photos-offer-look-at-pre-state-5510888.php