On September 26 at 16:00, the documentary installation “They Say We Have to Leave” by Swiss-Armenian director Varsy Buchmann will premiere at Latitude Art Space (Address: 7 Ashtarak Highway, Yerevan). The installation is dedicated to the forced displacement and ethnic cleansing of Artsakh in September 2023.
This three-part installation was created between 2023–2025 in collaboration with the Swiss production company Point de Vue, and reflects the tragic reality of the forced displacement of over 120,000 ethnic Armenians.
“I feel an irresistible need to tell this silenced story, to make the voices of displaced people heard. The support and empathy of every visitor to the installation can help us overcome our collective trauma.” said director Varsy Buchmann ahead of the exhibition.
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ABOUT THE INSTALLATION AND EXHIBITION
The installation consists of three parts. The first part presents the stories of 120 Artsakh women. Through their silent presence, they forever inscribe the horrific injustice that occurred into history. The visual narrative is accompanied by audio fragments from interviews, conveying the women’s emotions and memories. The musical component of the installation was created by contemporary composer Arsen Babajanyan. The exhibition space is designed as a long corridor, symbolizing the Lachin corridor through which they passed when forcibly displaced from Artsakh.
The second part of the exhibition presents oil as a symbol of global indifference, a force that silences the call for justice. Flowing oil is juxtaposed with the names of monasteries and churches—unique examples of Christian heritage, sacred sites that Armenians were forced to leave behind in Artsakh.
The third part of the installation features authentic footage, drawn largely from the personal archives of the 120 women who took part in the project. These intimate scenes of life, love, and enduring traditions invite visitors to revisit a past now left behind—a world of memories and ways of life that persist through absence.
The installation is presented in a gallery format that allows visitors to become involved, move through the stories, and feel each experience. Special note: Recommended for visitors aged 12+.
ABOUT THE CREATIVE TEAM
Varsy Buchmann is an award-winning Swiss-Armenian director, producer, and writer, founder of the creative company Boostplus GmbH operating in Lucerne. She has collaborated with Fondation Beyeler, Kunstmuseum Basel, and the Swiss National Museum.
Andreas Weber is a film director and AV producer, Executive Director of Point de Vue. He creates installations and documentary films, and is also the author of a series of events, such as Basel’s annual “Science + Fiction” festival.
SUPPORTERS AND PATRONS
This project has been made possible thanks to the support of trusted cultural foundations and organizations. The creation and presentation of the installation have been carried out with their financial and institutional backing. The authors gratefully emphasize that this support has enabled the project to be realized with full transparency, using resources dedicated exclusively to the preservation of cultural values.
This installation is an invitation to the international community to show support for the affected people of Artsakh and to stand together to raise the voice about the right not to be forgotten.
