This lecture is part of the activities for the exhibition Journey to Cavafy's Alexandria. Watercolours by Anna Boghiguian and refers to the oeuvre of Anna Boghiguian and the contemporary visual arts scene in the Middle East. 

Catherine David is a contemporary art historian with a special interest in the Middle East and the links between artistic output and international socio-political issues. She is head curator of the French general directorate of Museums (Direction des Musées de France - DMF). Since 1998 she has also been director of the Contemporary Arab Representations programme at the Tàpies Foundations in Barcelona. In 2009, she was the artistic director of the ADACH (Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture & Heritage) pavilion at the Venice Bienale, while in 2008 she was the recipient of the Bard Award for Curatorial Excellence.