Canvas published my conversation with artists Ala Younis and Ali Eyal, on the occasion of their first two-person exhibition, Can I Hug All These Flowers? at Onomatopee in Eindhoven. This resulted in a profound dialogue with the artists that explored the lingering legacies of the Gulf Wars and the 2003 invasion of Baghdad. Through a diverse range of media—including Jacquard-woven textiles, video lectures, and paintings—the artists weave together personal memories and archival research to confront themes of political erosion, the devastation of Iraqi museums, and the resilience of the human spirit. From Younis’s investigations into architectural history and the global flower industry to Eyal’s haunting reflections on family loss and his childhood spent amidst “the farm,” this conversation delves into how art serves as a vital conduit for navigating trauma and reclaiming histories that exist between the real and the imagined. More