SHOKOUK

Rouzbeh Akhbari and Felix Kalmenson, Iran/Russia/Canada, digital, 17 min, 2023

In Shokouk we overhear the gossip between a crowd gathered to observe a televised rocket launch, become acquainted with the fictional archival character Nikitin Nikifor, then join a karaoke event celebrating the inauguration of a Chinese infrastructure company in Uzbekistan, before arriving in geostationary orbit aboard the Mir space station. The artists present a constellation of anachronistic narratives drawing upon a variety of references, including the teachings of Italian physicist Carlo Rovelli on the essence of time, their own research on the harmful environmental impacts of the space industry on local livelihoods, and the works of the 12th and 13th century astronomers and polymaths Omar Khayyam and Nasir al-Din al-Tusi.

Rouzbeh Akhbari (1992) and Felix Kalmenson (1987). Collaborating under the name Pejvak on films and multimedia installations since 2015; screenings at venues including Doclisboa, Sharjah Film Platform, Kasseler Dokfest, and International Kurzfilmtage Winterthur; exhibitions at museums and galleries including Villa Arson, M HKA Antwerp, and Si Shang Art Museum. Originally from Tehran, Iran and St. Petersburg, Russia, both currently live in Toronto, Ontario.