This series of paintings by Desmond Lazaro was conceived during a residency at Kettle’s Yard and King’s College and created in partnership with individuals who had resettled in Cambridge. These hand-painted works represented Cambridge families’ experiences of migration and displacement. It was the first time Lazaro had worked with family archives other than his own.

The painting by Desmond Lazaro is a poignant reflection of a woman's life in exile, beginning in the 1980s. Her family, deeply rooted in military service, was forced to leave their country unexpectedly. During his residency, Lazaro met with her, and she shared the intimate story of her kitchen table, which holds deep emotional significance.

At the center of the painting is a tablecloth, symbolizing the heart of her home. The image depicted in the middle of the composition is a portrait of her mother, taken upon her arrival in the UK. This period was marked by challenges, as she could not speak English and had to navigate her new surroundings. One of her early encounters in her new life was with the Queen's Guards, a significant memory captured in the photograph that Lazaro faithfully recreated in his painting.

The drawings at the bottom of the painting represent her uncles, figures of deep affection, whom she left behind when she moved away. Through his work, Lazaro has beautifully captured and immortalized her cherished memories of home and the simple, yet profound, significance of her kitchen table.