Spectres of the River

SPECTRES OF THE RIVER: A Study Group by Sepideh Behrouzian

“Spectres of the River” is an online reading group series leading up to Sepideh Behrouzian’s upcoming exhibition “Anahita”. We will be looking at a selection of materials that have directly or indirectly informed the research for Sepideh Behrouzian’s film on the now dry river Zayandeh Rud in her city, Isfahan (Iran), and the intersecting conditions of such environmental degradation. 

The film considers climate change within a history of gendered, racial, and colonial oppression,  problematizing the underpinning separation between the human and its environment. Throughout history, gendered and racialised bodies have been closely entangled with environmental exploitation and resource extraction by being forced into an objectified relationship with the system of domination, and subjected to the extraction of property, labour, and personhood. The separation of the human from its environment has been used to justify its subjugation by framing “nature” as passive matter that must be activated by the mastery of “man”. This same structure of thought upholds the oppression of gendered and racialised bodies by framing them as passive actors closer to “nature” and readily available for exploitation. Behrouzian’s research examines how these forms of violence often remain hidden beneath discourses centered around the nation-state, civilisation, progress and modernization, belonging and exclusion, and property.

“Spectres of the River” will be divided into four sessions, each focusing on a different perspective into this research.

The study group will take place online. The language for the study group will be English.

Study group dates:

1st session: 6th July at 6 pm

2nd session: 10th August at 6 pm

3rd session: 21st of November at 6 pm

4th session: 18th of December at 6 pm

To take part in the study group please register by messaging

info@withtherubbles.org / @withtherubblesofoldpalaces

The reading materials will be sent to you after registering.

Funded by Hauptstadtkulturfonds.