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

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.

😎 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

😎 GUEST Khaled Hamed is a full-time Egyptian visual artist based in Tunis Village. Inspired by Salvador Dali, he sculpts in bronze, wood, fibreglass, and resin, and also writes poetry. Active on the art scene since 1998, he has participated in numerous group exhibitions, including the Youth Salon and the General Exhibition, and has held several solo shows at the Cairo Atelier.🔎 FIND OUT MORE Instagram: @khaled_hamed_2357👁️ 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 language.

😎 GUEST

Yousra Hafad is an Egyptian-Moroccan artist, based in Luxor, Egypt. She expresses women's innermost feelings through metaphorical works. The palatial and elegant women of her oil paintings convey a sense of stability, strength, and boldness.

🔎 FIND OUT MORE

Instagram: @yousra.hafad
Facebook: yousra.hafad

Find video episode here: https://youtu.be/b-Rvfos2Kbg

Full article here:https://emmyplaschy.com/yousra-hafad-painting-womens-feelings/

الفنان

المراجع

🔎 معرفة المزيد   

😎 GUEST

Her first exhibition was in El Sawy Culture Wheel with a group of photographers, early 2010. She also participated in the Youth Salon Exhibition in Cairo Opera House in 2013. Her deep sensitivity and search for beauty, which show in her pictures, will surely catch your eye.

ℹ️ REFERENCES

Omar Khairat – Emraah Motalaka - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=31r3CMSF-bE

🔎 FIND OUT MORE
Instagram: @shaimaafekry

😎 L'INVITÉ

eL Seed est un artiste qui se pose beaucoup de questions sur lui-même et sur le monde. Il utilise la sagesse des écrivains, poètes et philosophes du monde entier pour transmettre des messages de paix et souligner les points communs de l'existence humaine. Son art fait vivre les histoires des communautés qu'il rencontre à travers le monde et vise à créer un lien entre les peuples du monde entier.

🔎 EN SAVOIR PLUS

Instagram: @elseed

Ses recommandations:

Interview vidéo YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WmPLKngaQkM

Article : https://emmyinthemix.com/el-seed-ecrire-les-mots-decrire-les-maux-des-autres/

😎 GUEST

Her recommendations:

YouTube interview: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZZD4qgBPhQ

Blog interview: https://emmyinthemix.com/the-german-expat-who-co-founded-the-first-camel-riding-school/

😎 GUEST

Rawan Anani is a Palestinian watercolour artist, now based in Canada. Her work focuses on representing the Palestinian heritage through its cities and landmarks, its culture and its women.

YouTube interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=huzC-zgLSMs

Blog interview: ⁠https://emmyinthemix.com/rawan-anani-painting-the-colours-of-palestine/

Instagram: @rawan_anani_artgallery