Aral. Fishing in an Invisible Sea (2004) — Trajectory of Ecology and Water Mismanagement

A documentary film centred around the resilience of three generations of fishermen as they navigate the harsh realities of their once-thriving ecosystem of the Aral Sea, battling for survival amidst environmental devastation resulting from the Soviet Union water diversion projects.

• 7:30 PM – 8:30 PM: Conversation with Saodat unpacking the trajectory of ecology and water management

• 8:45 PM – 9:30 PM: Film screening of Aral. Fishing in an Invisible Sea (2004)

Photos courtesy of Saodat Ismailova

Following the Closing Keynote on 25 April, Saodat will embark on unpacking her most recent film archives, continuously over the next five days, in the Per°Form Open Academy Studio. There will be numerous screenings as Saodat articulates her trajectories of ecology, tradition, living with the non-human, colonialism, and the female universe.

Saodat interweaves myths, rituals and dreams with everyday life. She calls our attention, in a nuanced way, to social issues such as the drying up of rivers and women’s right to decide whether to wear the veil. Women’s identities and emancipation is a recurring theme in her work. Women play an important role in keeping Central Asian cultural and spiritual heritage alive – for example by passing on stories and customs from mother to daughter, generation after generation.

Each night of the Studio, Saodat engages in conversations of a particular topic and the night ends with film screening.