“As the daughter of immigrants and granddaughter of Armenian genocide survivors, I have perpetually experienced a profound sense of duality, caught between the concrete culture of Canada and the ephemeral nature of the Armenian diaspora and my family heritage. This intrinsic tension serves as the driving force behind my art.”
Marie Khediguian, an Armenian-Canadian artist residing in Montreal, Quebec (Tiohtià:ke, unceded kanien’keha:ka territory), is the daughter of immigrants and the granddaughter of four Armenian genocide survivors. Caught between the concrete culture of Canada and the more ephemeral nature of the Armenian diaspora, her art asks—and attempts to answer—important questions: How does one express the ache and longing for a homeland that they were forced by violence to leave? How does this ache translate from generation to generation? Can one create a new culture while maintaining the one they came from?
Working primarily with oils, Marie's artistic pursuit seeks to ground her family’s story in a permanent fashion. Her work is a profound exploration of life's transient elements and the familial bonds that transcend time. She confronts the enduring wounds of intergenerational trauma, striving to bring solace and healing.
Marie holds both a bachelor's and a master's degree in architecture from McGill University, where her thesis projects were showcased in the prestigious end-of-year exhibition. After gaining professional experience in architectural firms, she transitioned to teaching architectural technology. However, upon becoming a mother, Marie redirected her focus to her true passion: painting and drawing. She is currently pursuing a bachelor's degree in fine arts, specializing in painting and drawing, at Concordia University, where she continues to refine her craft. Additionally, Marie educates others about genocide by sharing her family's survival story and showcasing her art through engaging presentations and talks for high school students. Her remarkable journey as an advocate and artist was recognized when CBC News featured her work in 2022.
Artistic Statement
As the daughter of immigrants and the granddaughter of Armenian genocide survivors, I have always felt a profound sense of duality, caught between the concrete culture of the place where I was born (Quebec, Canada) and the ephemeral nature of the Armenian diaspora and my family heritage. This intrinsic tension serves as the driving force behind my art. Through introspective portrayals of myself, my family, and cultural motifs, I aim to establish a tangible archive of my family’s history.
Due to the destruction of physical records—such as birth and death certificates—and the looting of our valuables, we have very little documentation of our family’s past. As a result, the few photos and heirlooms we possess are incredibly precious. Oral narratives of our family’s survival have been passed down from generation to generation.
My art practice is dedicated to creating more physical, enduring family heirlooms by taking these photos and stories and transforming them into an archival body of work that preserves my family’s legacy. Whether it’s the broader shared cultural history, such as in Bearing Witness, or the personal, magical nostalgia that permeates Alexandria, Egypt in the 1950s, my work insists on the permanence of these memories. I invite viewers of my art to follow the narrative I am weaving, with new characters and cultural motifs, and to become embedded in the artwork—stepping into my experience as someone who doesn’t quite fit into any category or world she inhabits.
By creating my own new legends, stories, and visual language, I am making a space where people like me—displaced and caught between two cultures—can find a place to belong.
Exhibitions
October 2024
VAV Gallery
Montreal, QC
Marie Khediguian artist talks about her artistic practices in front of one of her paintings at concordia university VAV gallery group show
Ballads of Displacement was a group show and artist talk taking place at the VAV Gallery in downtown Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The show was explored the themes of dislocation and identity. During the vernissage there was an artist talk as part of the IUNGO TALKS program where I was able to speak about my artistic process and the specific pieces on show.
