People nominee

Kond is the last preserved district of old Yerevan. The low ceilings, disorganized gateways, old brick houses with specific architectural motifs and a distinct difference between the lifestyles of the locals and the rest of the city; here four or five families live in one yard, sharing a small area and daily life together. In these small yards, neighbors drink coffee, children play in narrow streets and men repair cars or play backgammon. The traditional customs and culture are well maintained in the courtyards of Kond, one of the unique parts of Yerevan, where people still live in the same place, generation after generation. Yet still, there is a danger that one day the last witness of the city’s old history will be lost.

A self-taught amateur, wholly devoted to photography. His photographic work to date has been featured at various international venues in the USA and Europe. Ilya is fascinated by contrast between lights and shadows, attracted by color harmony and infatuated with film photography.