Explore every episode of the podcast Orient Expressed

(FR and AR subtitles available on YouTube)

This is a conversation with Egyptologist Dr Arto Belekdanian about some of Ancient Egypt's greatest mysteries, from how the pyramids were built and what happened to the Sphinx's nose to the little-known stories of female pharaohs and the artists behind iconic masterpieces like Nefertiti's bust. We also explore hieroglyphs, royal rituals and why this ancient civilisation still fascinates us today.

00:00 Intro · مقدمة02:06 Becoming an Egyptologist · كيف بدأت رحلة علم الآثار05:24 How the pyramids were built · كيف بُنيت الأهرامات08:47 Purpose of ancient Egyptian art · 11:04 Ancient Egyptian artists names revealed · اسماء فنانون من مصر القديمة · فنانون من مصر القديمة13:33 Who made Nefertiti's bust? · من صنع تمثال نفرتيتي؟17:21 Female kings explained · الفراعنة النساء22:24 Q&A: Ancient Egyptian rulers & gods · أسئلة وأجوبة: حكام وآلهة مصر القديمة23:01 Ramses II, Cleopatra and the gods · رمسيس وكليوباترا والآلهة25:43 Nefertiti as possible female pharaoh · احتمال حكم نفرتيتي28:44 Useful resources to deep dive · موارد مفيدة للتعمق في الموضوع30:33 Writing hieroglyphs on a laptop · كتابة الهيروغليفية رقمياً35:20 The mystery of the Sphinx’s nose · لغز أنف أبو الهول38:40 AI and hieroglyph translation: Fabricius · الذكاء الاصطناعي والهيروغليفية41:06 Egyptian language and pronunciation · نطق اللغة المصرية القديمة42:45 Coronation rituals in ancient Egypt · طقوس التتويج45:23 Closing reflections · ختام الحلقة▶️ Video episode https://youtu.be/IDB8PxlhptE😎 GUEST Dr Arto Belekdanian is an Egyptian-Armenian egyptologist, and an AUC & Oxford graduate, he specialises in ancient Egyptian religion, kingship and royal rituals. He very skilfully bridges academic research and knowledge sharing with wider audiences through lectures, documentaries (National Geographic, the Discovery Channel, BBC Studios), and social media.🔎 FIND OUT MORE Instagram: @arto.belekdanian👁️ 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 6

Shot at: Villa Layla, Cairo, Egypt

Emmy's outfit by: ALMAH

This is a conversation with Louis Barthélemy, a French artist and designer whose colourful, symbolic and rebellious work is carried out in collaboration with artisans of the countries he travels to. We talk about identity, intuition, colonial heritage, cultural appropriation and the deconstruction of toxic masculinity.

00:00 Intro · مقدمة01:53 Who is Louis Barthélemy? · من هو لويس بارتيليمي؟03:45 First impressions of Egypt · الانطباعات الأولى عن مصر05:43 How he started working with Egyptian artisans · كيف بدأ العمل مع الحرفيين المصريين10:54 Artwork: Voyage de la Zarafa · عمل فني: رحلة الزرافة13:59 Unstitching hypermasculinity · تفكيك مفاهيم الرجولة السامة18:09 Going beyond colonial perspectives and "us vs them" · تجاوز المنظور الاستعماري وثنائية20:54 Cultural appropriation vs appreciation · بين التقدير الثقافي والاستيلاء الثقافي22:44 Fun Q&A: Louis Barthélemy & Egypt · أسئلة سريعة: لويس بارتيليمي ومصر30:06 Paulo Coelho & the "personal legend" · باولو كويلو ومفهوم «الأسطورة الشخصية»35:36 Amin Maalouf & "In the Name of Identity" · أمين معلوف وكتاب «الهويات القاتلة»

YouTube episode: https://youtu.be/R4tD-WnH8-s

😎 GUEST Louis Barthélemy is a French multidisciplinary artist and designer. He started his career in the French luxury industry before deciding to change life completely. His search for authenticity and culture storytelling lead him to create projects with artisans in Egypt, Morocco, Uzbekistan, and more. In 2025 he was awarded the Elle Decor prize for his Egyptomania collection for Balineum at the International Design Awards.

🔎 FIND OUT MORE Instagram: @louisbarthelemy

👁️ 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 5.

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/

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

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 أحمد عبد الفتاح، مصور وفنان مصري معاصر، يعمل مدرس مساعد في كلية الفنون الجميلة بجامعة الأقصر. حاز على درجة الماجستير في التصوير ووسائط الميديا الجديدة، ويسعى للحصول على الدكتوراه في مجال الواقع الافتراضي. يعد من أوائل الفنانين الذين يعملون على فن الواقع الافتراضي في مصر، حيث يستخدمه و يدمجه كوسيلة فنية. عرضت أعماله دولياً وفاز بجوائز عديده، بما في ذلك جوائز بنك الأهلي المصري لفن البورتريه. يعبر في أعماله عن تجربته الفنية بأبعاد مختلفة، رافضًا التصنيف الفني المحدد ويمزج بين الواقعي والافتراضي. يستخدم سيكولوجية الأشياء البصرية في أعماله، مع التركيز على التجريب وخلق إيقاعات لونية في إطار واقعي.

المراجع الفنانين المفضلين: ليونارد دي فينشي، بيكاسو، لوسيان فرويد، إيجون شيله، جوستاف كليمت، محمود مختار، محمود سعيد، سيف وانلي.

🔎 معرفة المزيد    _Instagram: @ahmed.abdelfattah

😎 GUEST Shaimaa Fekry is an Egyptian artist who “paints with photos”. Born in Cairo into a family of artists, she showcases the beauty of her hometown, its timelessness and its daily life through her expert eye and the lens of her beloved camera.

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 In partnership with “Cairo Biography initiative”, she exhibited her pictures taken in the same city locations as 19th century painter Robert Hay, comparing past and present.

Omar Khairat – Emraah Motalaka - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=31r3CMSF-bE
كوكو واوا - عاليا صالح (as sung by the artist) - https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2z53ps
Mazinger مازنچر (the cartoon) - https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x7re49z Naguib Mahfouz’s recommended works: بين القصرين 1 (Palace Walk) قصر الشوق 2 (Palace of Desire) السكرية 3 (Sugar Street)

🔎 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: 🎧 "Unreasonable hospitality" - The Next Big Idea 📖 "Les identités meurtrières" - Amin Maalouf

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 Linda Krockenberger - is a German expat who studied hotel management and was climbing the career ladder in Dubai. After she fell in love with camel riding, she decided to pursue her passion full-time, ultimately becoming the co-founder of the UAE's first camel riding school, in 2021. 🔎 FIND OUT MORE

Her recommendations: 🎧 "The Mettleset" podcast 📖 "The Alchemist" by Paulo Coelho School Instagram: @adcrc.me School website: https://adcrc.me/

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. 🔎 FIND OUT MORE

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 Website: www.facebook.com/rawananani.net

😎 GUEST Abdelrahman Elshahed is a Saudi artist, calligrapher and architect, born and currently based in Mecca. His works focus on spiritual geometry (Arabic calligraphy) and on ways to convey multiple concepts which are important for humanity through mixed media forms and deep symbolism. 🔎 FIND OUT MORE

YouTube interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GvBJYT6zg-U

Blog interview: ⁠https://emmyinthemix.com/abdelrahman-elshahed-portraying-the-language-of-angels/

Instagram: @elshahed_ Website: abdelrahmanelshahed.com

😎 GUEST
Faisal Alkheriji is a Saudi artist from and living in Jeddah. He paints characters mixing traditional Saudi cultural items (clothing, events, food) with cubist and surrealist techniques. He was introduced to painting at the age of 6 during a summer camp and later on took art classes. Inspired by Picasso, Godard and Condo, he uses acrylic paint on canvas to “represent culture differently” (his motto).

🔎 FIND OUT MORE YouTube interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fnTkUr8S0O0 Blog interview: https://emmyinthemix.com/faisal-alkheriji-the-saudi-cubist-painter/

Instagram: @artbyfaisal Website: artbyfaisal.com His artwork Theeban - ذيبان: https://www.instagram.com/p/CI8HsYdFyAC/–

😎 GUEST
Wissam Shawkat is an Iraq-born and Dubai-based artist whose energetic work encompasses calligraphy, typography, and design. He developed his own script: "Al Wissam". He also collaborated with Hermès on the perfume “Eau des Merveilles”, turned “Ambre des Merveilles”, a limited edition for the Gulf countries. To describe the way he experiments with letters, he coined the term calligraformism: creating a dialogue between western abstract art and the tradition of Arabic calligraphy. 🔎 FIND OUT MORE

YouTube interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bbAlAERbY8o Blog interview: https://emmyinthemix.com/wissam-shawkat-turning-arabic-calligraphy-around/ Instagram: @wissamshawkat
Website: wissamshawkat.com

😎 GUEST
Noura Bin Saidan is a Saudi visual, mural, and street artist, who also experiments with installations and graffiti with 3D mapping. She is the author of many mural artworks in Riyadh's shopping centre "The Boulevard" and participated in 2019 Middle Beast and 2021 Riyadh Season festivals.

Noura is on a mission to expand her art outside of her country and show people what Saudi culture is.

🔎 FIND OUT MORE

YouTube interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J28tS2Frk_Q

Blog interview: https://emmyinthemix.com/noura-bin-saidan-first-mural-artist-riyadh/

Instagram: @nourabinsaidan

Online shop: salla.sa/nsart

Get access to and insights from outstanding human beings: join me as I talk to artists and experts I admire from or located in the Arab world and West Asia.

Our conversations will often expand to culture, gender, language, and spirituality.

I hope Orient Expressed becomes your favourite workout or commute podcast!

www.emmyinthemix.com