Areg Balayan

Areg Balayan

Areg Balayan is an Armenian photographer and visual artist whose work delves into the profound human dimensions of conflict, memory and resilience. Born in Yerevan in 1980, Balayan's journey into photography began in 1995 when his grandfather gifted him his first camera. After studying zoo engineering and serving in the military, he co-founded the photo art studio miRED in the early 2000s. In 2005, he relocated to Artsakh with aspirations of starting a family business, but his enduring passion for photography redirected his path.

Balayan's acclaimed photo series "MOB" emerged from his personal experiences as a mobilized soldier during the 2016 Four-Day War. This intimate portrayal of conscript life garnered international recognition, earning first place in the Direct Look Photo Contest, second place in the LensCulture Exposure Awards, and the top prize in the Aurora Humanitarian Initiative's photo competition in 2017. His work has been featured in prominent outlets such as Reuters, Al Jazeera, and the Daily Mail.

Website: https://aregbalayan.pro/