Daily Inspiration: Meet Karineh Gurjian

Today we’d like to introduce you to Karineh Gurjian.

Hi Karineh, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
With a lifelong devotion to the visual arts, contemporary styles, cultural nuances, and historical underpinnings of art, I’ve been a global citizen, dwelling on three continents and six vibrant metropolises. This worldly exposure has indelibly shaped my outlook on life, imbuing me with profound insights into humanity and an unparalleled capacity to adapt, catalyzed by my transformative journey.

As a fine art photographer, my creative narrative converges at the crossroads of nature and humanity. A firm conviction of mine is that the natural realm mirrors the human odyssey. This conviction fuels my exploration of the symbiotic dance between the two domains, offering a profound mirror through which we can glimpse our essence and interconnectedness with the universe. Through my lens, I endeavor to encapsulate this interplay’s intricate beauty, deep intricacies, and delicate fragility. I aspire that my compositions kindle a sense of awe and forge a visceral link within the viewer.

My mission as an artist-photographer has fortuitously led me to traverse the globe, immersing myself in the tapestry of diverse cultures, delectable cuisines, and captivating souls that inhabit different corners of the Earth. Each country, with its unique palette of flavors and resonances, beckons to be immortalized through my lens—a lens that metamorphoses me into a visual storyteller and a globetrotting bard of aesthetics. My photographic journey is a testament to my mastery of technique, wielding light and composition as my artistic accomplices to meticulously craft visuals that are not just arresting but profoundly evocative.

In every photograph I craft, I orchestrate an evocative tale spun from the lives I encounter and the places I inhabit. These frozen moments encapsulate the essence of existence, beckoning the viewer to venture into the world through my eyes. My artistry is woven with an eye for meticulous detail and an innate grasp of luminance and arrangement, resulting in images that resonate visually while reverberating with layers of significance. My purpose is not merely to arrest attention but to beckon forth a symphony of emotions and contemplation, a window into my soulful encounters.

My photographic odyssey etches onward, and with every snap, I bestow a fragment of my unique perspective upon the world. From my years in New York City’s vibrant embrace to my sun-soaked haven in California, where Los Angeles now cradles my creativity, I traverse coastlines and embrace life’s fleeting instants through my lens.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
As a woman entering the realm of photography, the journey’s outset was marked by challenges. The industry was predominantly male-oriented then, a characteristic that, to some extent, persists even today. Many of my colleagues and collaborators were men, underscoring the pervasive male dominance within this profession. My tenure in teaching, spanning the last 4-5 years, has been similarly demanding. Despite instructing a diverse group of students, with a considerable female majority, I’ve encountered obstacles. Within the academic sphere, I’ve observed a prevalent pattern of white male representation among professors, which has made securing a full-time teaching position a formidable pursuit.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Throughout my extensive years as a photographer, my interests have flowed like a river of creative curiosity, shaping a diverse tapestry of passions. The flame of ardor for this art form still burns as brightly as when I embarked on this visual journey. The thrill of capturing a breathtaking image has an enduring magic that makes each click of the shutter feel like the very first.

My lens has danced across a multitude of subjects, weaving intricate visual narratives for both professional endeavors and personal projects. The challenge of pinpointing which realm evokes the greatest exhilaration is akin to capturing a fleeting moment of pure inspiration – it’s an enigma that keeps me captivated. Amidst this multifaceted exploration, however, stands a profound fondness for food photography, an arena where my creativity flourishes with unbridled zeal. The thought of collaborating with a visionary chef, conjuring a lifestyle cookbook that melds the culinary and visual arts, is an ambition that’s firmly etched onto my artistic bucket list.

Yet, there’s another dream that beckons me—an aspiration that paints the canvas of my future with vibrant hues. The vision of owning a gallery nestled within the embrace of a tranquil beach town resonates like a symphony of waves and art. This gallery would serve as a sanctuary, a space where the interplay of artistic expressions converges with the soothing rhythm of the ocean. It’s a dream that embodies not just my artistic yearnings but also a desire to contribute to a community to foster an oasis where creativity and nature intertwine harmoniously.

In the grand tapestry of my artistic odyssey, these aspirations are but threads, intricately woven to create a masterpiece that’s still unfolding. Each aspiration fuels the fire of my creative spirit, propelling me to seek, capture, and create with an unwavering passion that’s ever-renewing. And so, with every click of the shutter, I strive to immortalize not only images but the essence of wonder and the vivacity of dreams.

Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
In retrospect, my self-perceived identity as a non-risk-taker casts a shadow of longing for a bolder disposition, particularly during the nascent stages of my creative journey. The tapestry of possibilities that might have unfurled before me had I embraced risk more wholeheartedly seems tantalizingly different. The roots of this disposition, I believe, run deep into the rich soil of upbringing, bearing the imprints of parental guidance and familial dynamics. These early influences sculpt the mold of our risk tolerance, shaping our trajectory through life’s labyrinthine passages.

In this symphony of contemplation, the most resonant chord is struck by the memory of that pivotal moment a decade ago. From the vibrant heart of New York City, where my identity as an established photographer was etched, I embarked upon a daring odyssey to Los Angeles. This transition, akin to an artist’s rebirth, compelled me to reset the canvas of my career, relinquishing familiarity with the unknown. The decision, monumental and audacious, was accompanied by a simultaneous quest for intellectual enrichment—an MFA to fuel my aspiration to educate at the collegiate level. This crossroads held the promise of new beginnings and carried the weight of uncertainty.

The narrative since has been one of evolution, marked by the interplay of bold strides and cautious steps. The transition to LA and pursuing higher academic horizons have woven together a tapestry of growth, each thread a testament to the potential of embracing risk. The decision to uproot from a comfortable terrain and the familiar hum of the city that never sleeps was a testament to my latent courage. The commitment to an MFA journey, intertwining with the aspiration to impart knowledge, reflects a willingness to venture into the unknown, to dare.

As I stand here, both feet planted in the present, I find that the fusion of these elements—the leap to the West Coast and the academic endeavor—has yielded sweet fruits, albeit still ripening. The trajectory remains a canvas in motion, a masterpiece in progress. For in the quiet interstices between the steps taken and the ones yet to be lies the essence of my ongoing artistic evolution—an evolution not just in craft but in embracing the canvas of risk itself.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.karinehnyc.com
• Instagram: @karinehnyc, @karinehnyc_fineart
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Karineh13
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karinehnyc/
• Twitter: @karinehnyc
• Other: https://www.facebook.com/karinehnyc/