Manuk Alemian was born in the city of Hama, Syria, where he taught himself photography at a young age. In the 1930s, he already had an established practice as a photographer of Syria’s historical and natural views. After immigrating to Lebanon, he became one of the most active local photographers. Working in almost all the genres of the medium, Alemian energetically took part in various local and international competitions. His images of Lebanon's picturesque sights, as well as portraits of prominent political and cultural figures from the Middle East achieved great popularity both locally and internationally. Of these, his portraits of Armenian Catholicoses Vazgen I and Garegin II are some of his better-known works today.

During the 1950s-70s, Alemian collaborated closely with the Lebanese press and publishers. It was a period of real flourishing for local photography and Alemian managed to release a number of photo-albums and hundreds of postcards representing Lebanon’s rapid modernisation and progress. After the devastating civil war in Lebanon, Alemian, as well as a large segment of the Armenian community in Beirut, moved to Canada with his family, settling in Montreal.

Alemian's photographs are characterized by their predisposition for the picturesque and poetic realism. Seeking to recreate the beauty of the views and sites that were emotionally significant to him, Alemian made them devoid of conflictual or critical elements, which remain outside of the idealised picture frame. At the same time, the photographer’s images harmoniously integrate the past into the rapid currents of modernity. Today, Alemian’s oeuvre – especially his series representing the historical and urban landscapes of Syria and Lebanon – has irreplaceable documentary significance in light of the many subsequent military conflicts that have destroyed much of what was registered by his camera.

Vigen Galstyan, 2016