The 2016 series of paintings resulted from a need to communicate my feelings of homesickness, nostalgia, and longing to be with my family and friends in Syria. I found that the best way to do so was through art. The vibrancy of the colors and overall vitality of the pieces are directly connected to the profundity of emotions that I felt whilst painting them. By channeling my wonderful memories into physical artworks, I feel that they retain greater permanency. Although I recognize my loved ones in these pieces, I wanted the depicted figures to lack specificity in order for others to be able to discover their own personal affinity with the works. I think it is better to offer artistic generosity and an openness to interpretation.