In the photo series The Lost Residents, Merel Galestian explores the roots of her Armenian heritage—a cultural connection that continues to resonate, even across generations and geographic distance. By choosing a family surname as her artistic name, Galestian honours her ancestry while reflecting on themes of belonging and cultural memory in a global context.

Through her images, Galestian reflects on the quiet presence of ancestral roots—cultural ties that remain meaningful, even from a distance. The Lost Residents conveys, with subtle sensitivity, a personal search for connection to a heritage shaped by history, displacement, and time. It stands as a tribute to the resilience and enduring spirit of her Armenian ancestors.

This series was created using experimental photographic techniques. The images began as cyanotypes, later digitally layered with the original photographs and expressive digital brushwork. The result is a collection of layered, dreamlike compositions that reflect the complexity of cultural memory and the fragments passed down through generations. The Lost Residents offers a quiet tribute to the strength of ancestral identity, while expressing a personal journey to reconnect with what was once lost but still lives within.