Fatima prepares tea for breakfast in Nakhchivan, Azerbaijan. Her family welcomed the photographer into their home for three consecutive years as she searched the region for Satyrus effendi, the rare native butterfly named after her father, Soviet entomologist Rustam Effendi.
The Satyrus effendi is a rare butterfly species named after Soviet Azerbaijani entomologist Rustam Effendi, who is also the photographer’s father. In his lifetime, Rustam Effendi collected tens of thousands of butterflies, traveling between Armenia and Azerbaijan to hunt rare and endangered specimens. His death in 1991 coincided with the beginning of decades of conflict over the Nagorno-Karabakh region. The mountainous region of Karabakh along the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan, through which the photographer’s father effortlessly traveled on his butterfly hunts, has been ravaged by war, with tens of thousands killed and hundreds of thousands displaced.
For this project, the photographer retraced her father's footsteps, encountering ruined towns and desolate landscapes littered with landmines, in search of the elusive butterfly, which inhabits a border between Armenia and Nakhchivan, an Azerbaijani exclave isolated by war. In her pursuit, Rena Effendi met people on both sides of the conflict who helped her, in spite of mistrust between the two warring nations. The project also sheds light on the ecological impact of human conflict, highlighting the conservation challenges faced by endangered species like the Satyrus effendi butterfly. As habitats are disrupted and ecosystems destroyed, species face extinction, adding another layer of significance to the story. Her journey delves into the complex interplay of personal and political histories, exploring identity, loss, and survival for humans and other species alike.
Through this blend of personal narrative, photography, and history, the project offers a poignant exploration of resilience and beauty in the face of conflict. It serves as a reminder of the interconnectedness of human and natural worlds, urging viewers to consider the lasting impacts of war on both ecosystems and lives.
Are you a photographer and/or passionate about press freedom? Sign up for our newsletter to stay updated on our annual contest and to hear about exhibitions near you.