"Battered Waters" reveals human resilience at Xposure 2026

January 31, 2026 / 8:16 PM

Sharjah24: At the crossroads of visual storytelling and human experience, Xposure International Photography Festival continues to spotlight powerful documentary projects that confront some of the world’s most urgent environmental and social challenges. Among this year’s distinguished photographers was Anush Babajanyan, whose work offers an intimate and uncompromising look at human resilience.

The Armenian photographer Babajanyan, a contributing photographer with VII Photo and a National Geographic Explorer, shared insights into her long-term project “ Battered Waters”, which examines the concept of resilience in communities across Central Asia. Known for her focus on social narratives and deeply personal stories, she works extensively in the South Caucasus and continues to document stories from the region and beyond.

Babajanyan explained that documenting resilience requires time and emotional closeness, as it is not always immediately visible. She noted that true understanding comes through listening to people, engaging with their daily lives, and recognising the subtle emotions behind visible change. The project took six years to complete and captures both the challenges faced by communities affected by climate change and the positive developments and solutions they have adopted.

She added that "Battered Waters" seeks to raise awareness of how past environmental and social conditions continue to shape the present, highlighting people’s ongoing ability to adapt to new realities and demonstrating the enduring strength of human resilience.