In The Barber of Alexandria, artist Marie Khediguian paints herself into a 1950s family photo, blending oil, memory, and diaspora. Inspired by her grandfather’s barbershop in Alexandria, Egypt, the piece reclaims Armenian heritage through intimate storytelling. This work explores nostalgia, trauma, and belonging with emotional depth and painterly precision.

Bright colours blur into a magical scene, where dream-like hues and softened faces stir nostalgia and mystery. This painting, inspired by a photograph of my grandfather with his children—including my mother—captures the interplay of memory and imagination. Enlarged with magical realism, it conveys the emotional essence of a moment where clarity is elusive but significance reigns.