Muriel Ahmarani Jaouich: An Archaeology of Echoes

Healing is an intergenerational undertaking in the paintings of Muriel Ahmarani Jaouich. As a third-generation member of the Armenian diaspora, Ahmarani Jaouich’s work reflects her family’s history of exile following the Armenian Genocide. Traces remain from her family’s journeys from the Ottoman Empire through Egypt and Lebanon, and lastly to Montreal.  

Ahmarani Jaouich’s layered compositions draw inspiration from vintage family photographs, archival images and oral histories. A rich visual language comprised of repeating symbols—such as snakes, eyes, and the fez, symbolizing Ottoman rule—appear across paintings. The artist’s use of rich washes of pure colour reflects her pride in her familial histories, and her desire to use beauty to celebrate their courage and strength. The artist reconstructs a world she could only access through memory and family lore, grappling with grief while celebrating what remains. What we encounter is a deeply personal account of one family’s resilience, inviting us to reflect on our own responsibilities to those who must live in exile.