Desert Rivers

observations during the building process of the work Dead Water

Abstract

This essay draws upon the author’s reflection on the transformation of rivers, individuals and riverine communitites as a consequence of the building of dams for hydropower purposes – reflection that emerged from what she experienced during her fieldwork and from the encounters she had with the participants of the documentary project Dead Water. The essay is set out as a piece that embraces image and text and aims to introduce the concept of deserted rivers, departing from the author’s perceptions and interpretations as the Dead Water project is carried out.