This piece depicts how the artist views Egypt. Her last visit to Cairo, Egypt was when she was just 13 years of age, and her memories and associations of Egypt are shaped and remembered through photographs, social media, and other memories that are left from her past visits.

The painting is divided into 4 distinct quadrants and a ‘window’ in the center. The top-left quadrant portrays the sun rays that shine into Egypt. The top-right quadrant represents the plants and nature that grows within the city of Cairo. There are palm trees and other plants and trees growing in the streets of Cairo from what the artist remembers. The lower-left quadrant embodies the energy and brightness of the city. The artist especially traces back memories of Ramadan nights, where colourful lights and lanterns would fill the city streets. The city would glow from the displays of colourful shop signs. During the day fruit vendors would display their mangos, which were bright and had a strong smell that lingered. The juice shops would display their sugar canes, green in color, to attract buyers amongst other fruits. She remembers the refreshing cane juice that quenched her thirst on a hot summer day in Cairo. And finally, the lower-right side of the painting displaying a checkered black and white pattern, resembling the curbs of some of the main roads in the city. The window in the center of the painting depicts a view of homes along the Nile. The homes are surrounded by long palm trees, and the bright sun shines on and over them.

This piece depicts amal (hope) in the form of a warm and comforting light meal. As a result of a mental toll on the body, the only meal able to nurture Reem is kaak, labne, and a cup of shai b laban (tea and milk). The simplest of everyday tasks become difficult, including eating. This meal became a fixation being consumed regularly for breakfast, lunch, and dinner over the course of a few years. It is comfort and warmth and provides just enough strength for the artist to carry on. The painting consists of this light meal, and a background of colorful tiles inspired by talavera tiles. This painting captures a safe place where the hot tea is a warm hug, reassurance provided during a brief moment of the day.

A representation of what the artist’s brain looks like when they lose motivation and feel stuck resulting in an artist block.

The painting is inspired by the animated film Spirited Away.