'Carnisse in Flux' is a project by Omid Kheirabadi and Shardenia Felicia, with which they investigated the impact of gentrification and the state of constant urban flux on the Rotterdam neighbourhood of Carnisse by organising a series of performance workshops and a closing Happening event. The project was part of the group exhibition 'What We Build On' in the project space 'an other world' and aimed to create a space for collective reflection and dialogue.

Kheirabadi: 'From early June 2023, we worked with the local participants - Dafni Vlachou, Kivanc Michael Lewis (Hoekbound), Ariela Bergman and Roberto Barbato - to deepen the research. The performance sessions came together in a closing Happening in the form of an ongoing performance. During the Happening we were joined by dancer Qiqun Zheng (Qiqi), performer Isha van der Burg, performance artist Ali Niknam and Rotterdam musician Robin Becker, who created improvised soundscapes using 25 recordings from the area. We wanted to transform the audience into active participants and offer a space for both resistance and reflection.'

Photo: Jake Caleb, Omid Kheirabadi Shardenia Felicia Carnisse in Flux Happening 2024