More than any other habit, food connects us to the seasons, to the locality, and its changes. Knowledge of food transcends vertically and horizontally, through time and space, through generations, and through dozens of environmental-socio-economic changes.
The shores of the Caspian Sea are one of the under-researched areas for scientific and artistic purposes. The coast and the bottom of the Caspian are rich in oil and gas, and the regions around it have developed agricultural activities. Socio-economic and ecological problems of the Azerbaijani coastal zone of the Caspian Sea have aggravated as a result of the exploitation of natural resources of the Sea and coastal areas. Being exploited for economic extraction for years, the biodiversity in the Sea has suffered a lot, and this impact went beyond the creatures in the Sea - it also influenced people living in the vicinities and beyond. These crises are deepening as climate change impacts the realities of the Sea.
The project "Caspian Manifesto" aims to take a closer look at the changes in biodiversity loss at and in the Caspian Sea and how it affects the daily habits of the people. Food diversity and everyday recipes provide information about changes and the impact of climate change on food systems. Through the lens of food, a scientific and artistic approach will be taken to provide insight into the quality and accessibility of natural products and to explore the coexistence of man and nature on the shores of the Caspian Sea. The results of the research will be presented in articles, photographs, and audio material, which will be available in a magazine and on the website and will contribute to a better understanding of local thinking and perceptions on climate change.
The Salt Traces collective created in the frames of this project will update you about the research processes and provide poetic reflections around sea and food. Subscribe to the newsletter.
