Orient Expressed

Ancient Egyptian Art Revisited: Alaa Abu Elhamd · إعادة قراءة الفن المصري القديم: علاء أبو الحمد

This episode follows Alaa Abu Elhamd, an Egyptian painter from Upper Egypt, whose work reconnects contemporary painting with ancient Egyptian visual heritage. We explore his symbolic, figurative language shaped by Luxor, his personal life, as well as the themes of spirituality, memory and rebirth in forming his artistic vision.00:00 Intro · مقدمة00:49 Who is Alaa Abu Elhamd? · من هو علاء أبو الحمد؟02:45 Artwork 1: from The White Wall (2023) · العمل الفني 1: من الجدران الأبيض04:41 Artwork 2: from The Fields of Iaru (2025) · العمل الفني 2: من حدائق اليورو07:02 Artwork 3: from Pomegranate Seeds (2022) · العمل الفني 3: من كان حب الرمان08:22 Meaning of blue colour in Ancient Egypt · معنى اللون الأزرق في مصر القديمة09:34 Artwork 4: Untitled (2020) · العمل الفني 4: بدون عنوان10:29 Why paint dark eyes? · لماذا يرسم العيون الداكنة؟11:05 Why skin looks like wood? · لماذا تبدو البشرة كأنها خشب؟12:21 The artists that inspire him · الفنانين الذين يلهمونه12:57 Can anyone become an artist? · هل يمكن لأي شخص أن يصبح فناناً؟13:55 Why Luxor is so special · لماذا الأقصر مميزة جداً؟14:46 His take on AI in art · رأيه في الذكاء الاصطناعي في الفن16:46 Current projects · المشاريع الحالية17:22 Luxor and its energy · الأقصر وطاقة المكان18:24 His favourite spot in Karnak · مكانه المفضل في الكرنك😎 GUEST Alaa Abu Elhamd is an Egyptian contemporary painter from Upper Egypt. He works in oil on canvas inspired by ancient Egyptian art and Luxor’s visual heritage. He likes to explore spirituality, memory and rebirth through symbolic figurative works. Assistant Professor at Luxor University, he has exhibited widely in Egypt and abroad, with solo shows including The Fields of Iaru (2025) and Biban, and won the Youth Salon Award.🔎 FIND OUT MORE Instagram: @alaa_abuelhamd👁️ ABOUT Orient Expressed Orient Expressed is produced by Emmy Plaschy, to bring a new perspective and build bridges between the worlds of Europe and SWANA – with a focus on art, culture, and growth.Season 2, Episode 4.Shot at: Lady of The Sun Guesthouse, Luxor, EgyptOutfit by: The Sahara CollectionShot by: Mobarak Saad AliCreative support: Yasmine @Heartfull Studio Blog article: https://emmyplaschy.com/alaa-abu-elhamd-revisiting-ancient-egyptian-art/

Expressionism and Intimacy in Iraq: Ziyad Jassam · التعبيرية والحميمية في العراق: زياد جسّام

This episode explores how artist Ziyad Jassam questions cultural identity as well as the contemporary realities of Iraq. We discuss expressionism, social taboos, and how best to perform and live your art. 00:00 Intro · مقدمة01:02 Who is Ziyad Jassam? · من هو نور المصري؟03:03 The difference between an artist and a painter · بداية التصوير الفوتوغرافي04:35 Artists that inspire him · الفنانون الذين يلهمونه05:39 The influence of Christo · تأثير كريستو08:08 Artwork 1: Moment of Love (2014) · العمل الفني 1: لحظة حب11:01 Reaction to the exhibition in France · ردود الفعل على المعرض في فرنسا14:01 Artwork 2: Recycling (2016) · العمل الفني 2: إعادة التدوير17:59 Artwork 3: Peace will be born (2021) · العمل الفني 3: سيولد السلام19:26 Link with Naseer Shamma · الرابط مع نصير شمّا20:59 AI and art: a good combination? · الذكاء الاصطناعي والفن: هل هو مزيج جيد؟24:23 Useful advice for artists · نصائح مفيدة للفنانين26:01 Cliché he wants to get rid of · الصورة النمطية التي يريد التخلص منها 📖 Blog article https://emmyplaschy.com/ziyad-jassam-expressionism-intimacy-in-iraq/ 😎 GUEST Ziyad Jassam is a multidisciplinary Iraqi artist recognised for his paintings, sculptures and writings. He also writes art criticism and designs literary publications. He completed his studies at the Institute & the Academy of Fine Arts in Baghdad. Ziyad has held several solo exhibitions in Iraq and abroad, including Paris, Beirut and Marocco, receiving several awards. 🔎 FIND OUT MORE Instagram: @ziyad_jassam 👁️ ABOUT Orient Expressed is produced by Emmy Plaschy, to bring a new perspective and build bridges between the worlds of Europe and SWANA – with a focus on art, culture, and growth. Season 2, Episode 3. Produced by: @emmyplaschy

Xenia Nikolskaya: Cairo's Forgotten Architecture · كسينيا نيكولسكايا: عمارة القاهرة المنسية

This episode explores Cairo’s disappearing architecture through the lens of award-winning photographer Xenia Nikolskaya, whose long-term project documents Egypt’s overlooked heritage.We discuss photography as a tool for memory, the journey to becoming a photographer, and how artists record cultural change in contemporary Cairo. Watch the full filmed conversation on YouTube. 📚 CHAPTERS 00:00 Intro · مقدمة 00:50 Who is Xenia Nikolskaya? · من هي كسينيا نيكولسكايا؟ 01:30 Starting photography · بداياتها في مجال التصوير الفوتوغرافي 05:00 Coming to Egypt · وصول إلى مصر 06:30 Her book "Dust: Egypt's Forgotten Architecture" · "كتابها "غبار: العمارة المنسية في مصر 09:09 Villa Casdagli: a challenge · فيلا كازداغلي: موقع يشكّل تحدّيا للتصوير 10:13 Photography, all about social skills · التصوير الفوتوغرافي والمهارات الاجتماعية 11:46 Why document heritage? · لماذا يُعد توثيق التراث أمرا ضروريا؟ 12:59 Maria Golia: Photography in Egypt · ماريا غوليا والتصوير الفوتوغرافي في مصر 13:49 AI and art: good or bad? · الذكاء الاصطناعي والفن بين الإيجابيات والسلبيات 15:05 How to become an artist? · كيف يمكن للمرء أن يصبح فنانا؟ 18:12 What it takes to be an artist · متطلبات أن يكون الإنسان فنانا 18:48 Ongoing project: "Plastic Jesus" · "مشروع مستمر بعنوان "يسوع البلاستيك 😎 GUEST Xenia Nikolskaya is a Russian-Swedish photographer, curator and educator, based in Cairo. She currently teaches photography at German University in Cairo. Xenia took part in more than 40 international exhibitions, 20 of them solo shows. She is the author of "Dust: Egypt’s Forgotten Architecture", a project spanning 2006 to 2022 that covers 30 locations and documents Egypt’s fading and forgotten architecture. 🔎 FIND OUT MORE Instagram: @xenia_nikolskaya_photography 👁️ ABOUT Orient Expressed Orient Expressed is produced by Emmy Plaschy, to bring a new perspective and build bridges between the worlds of Europe and SWANA – with a focus on art, culture, and growth. Season 2, Episode 2 Produced by: Emmy Plaschy Shot at: AUC Press

Nour Elmassry: Revealing the Light in Cairo · نور المصري٬ كشف النور في القاهرة

This episode explores how photographer Nour Elmassry captures the atmosphere of Cairo through light, colour and urban composition. We discuss street photography, memory, and how contemporary Egyptian artists translate everyday city life into visual narratives.An expert at blending realism with cinematic mood, he documents familiar spaces while transforming them into poetic, almost surreal scenes that reflect Cairo’s emotional landscape. Watch the full filmed episode on YouTube. 00:00 Intro · مقدمة00:58 Who is Nour Elmassry? · من هو نور المصري؟01:38 Starting photography · بداية التصوير الفوتوغرافي02:43 What he likes to shoot · ما الذي يحب تصويره04:05 Artists that inspire him · الفنانون الذين يلهمونه07:09 Artwork 1: Tale of Cairo · العمل الفني 1: حكاية القاهرة09:32 Artwork 2: City in Blue · العمل الفني 2: المدينة باللون الأزرق11:07 Artwork 3: Nile Tableau · العمل الفني 3: لوحة النيل13:20 Artwork 4: Light of Garden City · العمل الفني 4: ضوء جاردن سيتي15:01 Advice for aspiring photographers · نصائح للمصورين الطموحين17:40 Facts about Nour Elmassry · حقائق عن نور المصري18:42 Upcoming projects · المشاريع القادمة 😎 GUEST Nour Elmassry is a Cairo‑based Egyptian photographer, art director and film production designer known for capturing the poetry of Cairo's streets and architectural heritage. He creates spaces that are both familiar and surreal, where light, colour, and composition are the main characters. He gained international attention after an early Instagram shot went viral, and continues to shine with his original visual style. 🔎 FIND OUT MORE Instagram: @nour_elmassry 👁️ ABOUT Orient Expressed Orient Expressed is produced by Emmy Plaschy, to bring a new perspective and build bridges between the worlds of Europe and SWANA – with a focus on art, culture, and growth.

Wael Nour: Timeless Watercolours of Upper Egypt · #12

😎 GUEST Wael Nour is a Luxor-based Egyptian contemporary artist who specialises in classical watercolours. His work beautifully captures the soul of Upper Egypt. A graduate of the Faculty of Art Education at Assiut University and former student of the late Bekheit Farrag, he paints light as much as landscape, capturing the stillness and soul of rural Egypt in fluid, meditative scenes that linger in time. His work has been exhibited widely across Egypt and Europe.🔎 FIND OUT MORE Instagram & Facebook: @nour.watercolors