Performance by Sana Ghobbeh as part of the public programm for Silent Times.

Before us stands the gate of Tehran University — a striking piece of modern architecture, designed as an open and welcoming gateway to wisdom. This space has seen countless lives pass through, each leaving their mark on its fabric. Personal journeys intertwine with the currents of collective movements. Some lives are tangible, rooted in reality, while others exist in the realm of imagination.

In her performances, Sana Ghobbeh weaves together architectural interpretation, interpersonal storytelling and the imaginative spark ignited by being present in specific public spaces. She invites us to imagine our bodies in these spaces, exploring the complex relationship between historical events, everyday actions and the presence of the body in its environment.

Can the fusion of fabulation and poetry reveal subtle gestures or small acts of resistance — movements that might unsettle the rigidity of architectural elements aligned with oppression?
This performance is part of the artist's ongoing research project Performing Spaces — an exploration on urban structures and their inner-narratives.

Concept & performance: Sana Ghobbeh
Dramaturgical advice: Maarten Van den Bussche
Production: Kunstenwerkplaats

Artists: Sana Ghobbeh