ن ب د ل (Exchange)

This set of necklaces was inspired by a series of conversations I had with a cousin residing in Egypt. The chains are each handmade from fine silver wire. The imagery that has been laser-engraved onto the leather are from photographs he sent me of Alexandria.

As a second generation Egyptian-American woman, my only experience with Egypt is through the stories that I’ve told by my family. I reached out to my cousin in Egypt so that I could try to build a relationship with my family in the Middle East whom I’ve never had the chance to meet. Through our pleasant email exchange, I asked if he could send me images of Alexandria (my fathers birthplace).

This experience simultaneously provided levity and a sense of longing, which only furthered my desire for a genuine connection to the Middle East and to my extended family. With this project, I sought to represent the emotional state of feeling disconnected from something that feels so integral to personal and cultural identity.