Alexandria, Egypt (once upon a time)
Details: Oil on Canvas, 20 x 30 inches
Year: 2024
Bright colors blur details into a magical scene, where dream-like hues and softened faces evoke a sense of nostalgia and mystery. In this painting, inspired by a photograph of my grandfather with his children—including my mother as a little girl—I capture the interplay of memory and imagination. Enlarged and infused with magical realism, the piece conveys the deep emotional “specialness” of this moment, where nothing is entirely clear but everything feels significant. (see more below)
My art is a profound exploration of memory, displacement, and the resilience of family stories. My parents immigrated to Canada from Alexandria, Egypt, in the late 1960s, marking the third generation of my family forced to flee from danger before finding safety. This history of displacement meant that very few personal belongings were saved, making the stories and photographs that survived all the more precious.
For me, photographs are sacred. The few physical remnants that survived my family’s journey to Canada are carefully organized in numbered albums. These albums serve as a portal to the past, where family storytelling comes alive as we gather to browse through them, immersing ourselves in nostalgic memories.
My work is deeply rooted in my family history. All four of my grandparents were survivors of the Armenian Genocide, and my artistic practice centers on preserving and reimagining their legacy. Through my art, I invite viewers to reflect on the power of memory and the enduring connections between past and present. To learn more about me please see my “about'“ page.