Xaviera Simmons, Superunknown (Alive in the), 2010

This past weekend I had the distinct pleasure of speaking on Somali piracy for the CIC’s symposium on Hydrarchy. A review of the exhibit itself is here, by Helen, brilliant as always. This was my first real-ass speaking engagement and as a result I was a bundle of nerves and sleeplessness, but I got some really nice feedback in spite of this. CIC’s Artistic Director is so much more than that; I’m consistently amazed at her ability to critically engage and give notes. My piece was an expansion/reflection of the paper Kelsy and I gave in July and I’m sort of brimming with ideas right now as to what directions it can go in. The seascape is this sort of space that’s beyond any simplistic assignations of state of exception, etc. and I love contemporary piracy as a sort of lens into that. Also brings up all these implications, re: multitude, racialization/criminalization, piracy and cyber space. 

The other speakers were inspiring, of course: Iain Chambers, Take to the Sea, and a panel on the Gaza flotilla with Lina Attallah, Huweida Arraf, and Amr Shalakany. An immense privilege to share a line-up with them. 

If you’re in Cairo, Hydrarchy is up through the 14th.