War-Torn Ecologies: Resistant Worlds
War-Torn Ecologies: Resistant Worlds is a multidisciplinary artistic programme, taking place in London and Beirut. The project is inspired by the book “War-torn ecologies, Anarchic Fragments: Reflections from the Middle East” (2023) by Umut Yıldırım. Extending from this, the programme focuses on the impact of perpetual colonial realities and counterinsurgency wars on ecologies in the Middle East. By engaging with artistic and ecological practices, it emphasises the relationship between human and more-than-human worlds as a methodology to counter ongoing colonial and imperialist systems of mass violence.
In a region often characterised by sectarian violence, “terrorism”, corruption, and resource exploitation, imaginative ecological practices continue to emerge through the cracks of occupation and war. Unfolding across multiple geographies, in physical and digital space, this programme brings together experimental and artistic practices which embody vital active solidarities. In turn, these create openings which resist and push back against the incapacitating effects of this violence.
Thursday 27 June | Opening Session | The Mosaic Rooms | 7pm
Françoise Vergès and Umut Yıldırım, moderated by Odessa Warren
Friday 28 June | Film & Talk | LUX | 7pm
Dala Nasser and Mhamad Safa, moderated by Adam HajYahia
Saturday 29 June | Live Programme | The Mosaic Rooms | 11am-7.30pm
Shourideh C. Molavi, Sakiya – Tareq Khalaf, Umut Yıldırım, Gascia Ouzounian, Ameneh Solati, Kali Rubaii, Al-Block – Areej Ashhab & Sireen Alawi and Basma
Thursday 27 June – Saturday 29 June | Film Programme | The Mosaic Rooms | 11am-6pm
with works by Suha Shoman, Jumana Emil Abboud, Ruba Salameh, Inas Halabi, Shada Safadi, Kamal Aljafari, Pejvak (Rouzbeh Akhbari & Felxi Kalmenson), Sherko Abbas and Manal Mahamid.
War-Torn Ecologies: Resistant Worlds is curated by Odessa Warren, Umut Yıldırım, Reem Shadid (Beirut Art Center), Siegrun Salmanian and Angelina Radaković (The Mosaic Rooms).
The programme will resume at Beirut Art Centre in September 2024.
The programme War-Torn Ecologies: Resistant Worlds is supported by Art Jameel and British Council through Anhar: Culture and Climate Platform.
Design by Rand Hamdallah.