Le Mont A
password: mount
CG, video installation 8K, 8:15 min., 2024
Produced by Fondation Fiminco, Fondation Artagon, Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation
"Furthermore, during difficult times, you may find yourself speaking to the mountain, flattering it, cursing it, making promises or threats. You may feel that the mountain responds if you address it correctly—becoming gentler, more yielding. Do not belittle yourself for this; do not be ashamed of behaving as those whom our specialists call primitive and animistic. Just remember, when you recall these moments later, that your dialogue with nature was only the outward image of an inner dialogue with yourself".
Produced by Fondation Fiminco, Fondation Artagon, Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation
"Furthermore, during difficult times, you may find yourself speaking to the mountain, flattering it, cursing it, making promises or threats. You may feel that the mountain responds if you address it correctly—becoming gentler, more yielding. Do not belittle yourself for this; do not be ashamed of behaving as those whom our specialists call primitive and animistic. Just remember, when you recall these moments later, that your dialogue with nature was only the outward image of an inner dialogue with yourself".
-René Daumal, Mount Analogue
A dialogue between Mount Ararat and René Daumal's Mount Analogue contemplates the paradox of their visible yet unreachable presence as inland mountains. It reflects on how mountains, serve not only as physical landmarks but also as metaphysical constructs that shape our sense of self. Through this lens, the boundaries between personal biography and geography dissolve, revealing the intricate ways in which our identities are intertwined with the landscapes we inhabit. Mount Ararat, its 5,137-meter volcanic peak visible on the horizon, stands as a poignant symbol—permanently in sight, yet inaccessible due to the intractable forces of geopolitical struggle.
The ancient people of Western Armenia used to speak to the mountain as if it were a living entity. They inhabited caves within the mountain, as it was warmer inside. The towering amplitude of the mountain, exceeding 5,000 meters, encouraged these people to study astrology. Cave drawings and symbols depicting star constellations, dating back to the pre-Christian period, have been discovered. The pure sky of the highland connected people to the stars and the sun, which they envisioned as having a spiral movement resembling the horns of the mystical Bezoar goat.
The Bezoar goat is a species of goat found in the Caucasus region. Known as the ibex, it is naturally found only in this part of the world. These mountain goats, many of which historically inhabited the Armenian Highland, are fairly large and possess enormous horns that bend backward, covering almost the entire length of their bodies. Classified as a "vulnerable" species, the Bezoar goat's population is declining due to hunting and habitat loss. Their horns are often taken as trophies, as is a rigid hairball found in their stomachs, called a bezoar.
The significance of the Bezoar goat for Armenia lies in its mythology. In ancient times, the Bezoar goat was revered and worshiped. Petroglyphs found in the mountains serve as evidence of this reverence, with many images depicting the animal. These depictions indicate the goat's holy status and its integral role in the religious and cultural beliefs of the region.
