‘The World in one glass’: Narek Melkonyan’s photographs offer a new perspective on famous and lesser-known places

Narek Melkonyan is not a professional photographer by training. However, driven by curiosity, a passion for travel and an ability to see beauty in unexpected ways, he has managed to help people rediscover the world through images that capture famous landmarks, hidden sites and memorable moments from different countries.

Melkonyan has done so through the lens of a transparent glass cup, a technique that gives each scene a distinctive and, at times, almost mysterious quality.

His exhibition, titled “The World in one glass,” has opened at the ArtAm platform at Zvartnots International Airport, offering visitors the opportunity to become part of his journeys.

The exhibition was organized and curated by Armine Tumanyan, founder of the ArtAm Gallery. Melkonyan says that throughout years of travel he sought a unique perspective that could unite different countries, cultures and civilizations around a single idea.

“Like many unusual ideas, The World in one glass was born by chance. One day, while looking at a reflection through a glass filled with water, I realized that the cup itself could become the symbolic boundary connecting reality and our perceptions. Through this project, I wanted to show that despite geographical distances, the world is far more interconnected than we often imagine. The world reflected inside the cup reminds us that every country, culture and story is part of one great human story,” he said.

Melkonyan began travelling extensively more than two decades ago, both for professional reasons and out of personal curiosity. Since then, he has visited nearly 50 countries across different continents, returning to some of them more than ten times.

“Every journey has been not only an opportunity to discover new places, but also to meet people, hear stories and explore cultures. There are certainly countries I will always want to revisit. Italy, with its rich cultural heritage, and France, with its architecture and special appreciation of art, are places that reveal something new each time. Today, however, I am increasingly interested in visiting parts of the world I have not yet seen, particularly Central and Southern Africa, as well as countries in South America,” he said. Melkonyan stresses that every monument has its own story, and that story is often what makes it unique. He is especially inspired by sites that have preserved their significance over centuries and continue to inspire people today.

Among the places that have left the strongest impression on him are Rome’s Colosseum, Paris’ Eiffel Tower, the Acropolis of Athens and numerous historic complexes across the East. In his view, these are not merely structures built of stone or metal, but embodiments of human intellect, determination and creativity.

“Stories often change the way we see things. When you learn the history of a place, you begin to perceive it completely differently. There have been occasions when I had not planned to photograph a particular monument, but after hearing a legend, a historical event or a story about the people connected to it, I returned and spent hours searching for the perfect shot. In those moments, a photograph becomes not just an image, but a continuation of history,” he said.

While cities and monuments are the central subjects of the exhibition, Melkonyan says he is increasingly convinced that people are the greatest value of any place. He therefore does not rule out the possibility that people may become the main subjects of his future projects.

The exhibition will remain open until July 13.

“I am very pleased that it is taking place at Zvartnots International Airport, Armenia’s main air gateway, where it can be seen by thousands of travellers from around the world. I hope the exhibition will bring visitors joy and become one of the pleasant memories they take home from Armenia. I do not have long-term plans for new exhibitions at the moment, but I am open to any opportunity that could help make the idea of The World in one glass accessible to a wider audience,” Melkonyan said.