An Article by M. J. (576 words, 3 min. read)
From June 11 to June 18, 2026, the USEK Museum presents Entre deux rives, voyage en mémoire, a watercolor exhibition by Maria Magro organized as part of the celebration of France at USEK. The project invites visitors on a journey through memory, geography and cultural exchange, tracing a life lived between cities, civilizations and shores.
A Cartography of Personal Memory
Throughout the exhibition, Maria Magro transforms places into memories. From Ankara to Beirut, Jerusalem and Istanbul, her watercolors capture the locations she inhabited, crossed or contemplated over the years. Streets, facades, churches, domes and gardens emerge through delicate washes of color and precise drawing. Rather than documenting these sites in a strictly topographical manner, she infuses them with emotion and recollection. Architecture becomes a vessel of memory, while each composition evokes moments of departure, discovery and belonging.
The transparency of watercolor plays a central role in this visual language. Light seems to travel through the paper, creating images that feel suspended between reality and remembrance. The result is an intimate atlas where personal history intersects with cultural heritage.
A Dialogue Between East and West
The exhibition’s title speaks not only of geographical distance but also of cultural connection. The two shores are those of East and West, linked through centuries of exchanges across the Mediterranean. By bringing together views inspired by different cities and traditions, the exhibition highlights the circulation of ideas, people and artistic influences that have shaped the region.
Presented within the framework of the celebration of France at USEK, the project acquires an additional dimension. It reflects the longstanding cultural dialogue between France and Lebanon while acknowledging the historical ties that connect France to the Levant and the Mediterranean world. The works become places of encounter where histories, identities and sensibilities converge.
The Vision of Elsie Deek Abou Jaoude
A significant part of the exhibition’s strength lies in the curatorial vision of Elsie Deek Abou Jaoude, museum director, curator and art historian, whose thoughtful approach transforms the presentation into a coherent cultural narrative. Through careful selection and contextualization, she frames the watercolors not simply as personal recollections but as reflections on heritage, memory and intercultural dialogue.
Her work highlights the broader significance of the project, placing individual experience within larger historical and cultural networks. The exhibition demonstrates her commitment to making the museum a place where art, history and education intersect, encouraging visitors to engage with both the aesthetic qualities of the works and the stories they preserve.
The Museum as a Cultural Bridge
The exhibition also reflects the mission of the USEK Museum as an academic and cultural institution. By bringing together artistic practice, historical reflection and international dialogue, the museum reinforces its role as a space for transmission and exchange. It demonstrates how museums can contribute to building connections between communities while safeguarding cultural memory.
In this context, Entre deux rives, voyage en mémoire extends beyond the personal journey of its creator. It becomes a reflection on the importance of preserving places, stories and shared heritage in a rapidly changing world.
Preserving What Time Leaves Behind
As visitors move through the galleries, they encounter more than architectural views and landscapes. They discover fragments of a life, traces of journeys and reminders of the emotional bonds that connect people to places. Through the delicacy of watercolor and the sensitivity of memory, the exhibition offers a meditation on travel, belonging and cultural continuity.
