
These roots never blossomed
Residencies
- 27.01 > 28.01.2025
In the southern reaches of Tehran, the capital of Iran, lies Kahrizak — a town where history lingers in quiet evolution, steeped in echoes of the past. It is home to a sugar refinery born from Belgian hands — a seed sown in a once-fertile landscape of lush lawns, brimming with promise and nurturing dreams of progress and the bloom of industrialization.
Now, the refinery stands half-ruined yet steadfast, surrounded by graves, decay, and sprawling mass construction. Its wrinkled walls bear the indelible marks of time, a silenced witness to the rise and fall of its surroundings and the relentless transformation of the region. Kahrizak’s refinery is more than just a relic of the past; it stands as a profound symbol of what was lost and sacrificed as ambition reshaped the land.
This performance is a result of Sana’s research project Sugar Cubes, an exploration of the historic industrial ties between Belgium and Iran in the sugar industry.
Concept & performance: Sana Ghobbeh I Development Assistent: Arezoo Khazanbeig I Dramaturgical advice: Maarten Van den Bussche I Mentor: Samah Hijawi I Production: Kunstenwerkplaats I Coproduction: Beursschouwburg, wpZimmer, Monty, Kunsthal Gent, Kunsthal Extra City I With the support of the Flemish Government and VGC, and Kunstencentrum BUDA.