The Chronicle of Cenmar’s Descent in Kafka’s Castle

Behrang Samadzadegan

“The Chronicle of Cenmar’s Descent in Kafka’s Castle” is a part of an ongoing project called “Heading Utopia.” This site-specific installation reflects the metaphors I usually represent in my practice.

Cenmar or Cinimmar (pronounced “senimar”) was an architect who was requested by the Lakhmid king to build the most beautiful palace of the Sasanian Empire. After a long time, Cenmar finished building the palace called Khawarnaq. Cenmar told two secrets about the palace to the king. The king, afraid of Cenmar’s knowledge of the secrets and that he might build a bigger and more beautiful palace for another king, ordered his guardians to kill Cenmar by throwing him off the palace.

In Kafka’s The Castle, the protagonist arrives in a strange village and tries desperately to contact the mysterious authorities who govern the village from a fortified castle, for apparently, they have offered him a job. However, through his futile attempts, he will not gain anything and will lose himself amongst different useless and irrelevant information about how to find a way to the castle.

Behrang Samadzadegan, “The Chronicle of Cenmar’s Descent in Kafka’s Castle”(detail), installation at pasio, 2017
Behrang Samadzadegan, “The Chronicle of Cenmar’s Descent in Kafka’s Castle”(detail), installation at pasio, 2017
Behrang Samadzadegan, “The Chronicle of Cenmar’s Descent in Kafka’s Castle”(detail), installation at pasio, 2017
Behrang Samadzadegan, “The Chronicle of Cenmar’s Descent in Kafka’s Castle”(detail), installation at pasio, 2017
Behrang Samadzadegan, “The Chronicle of Cenmar’s Descent in Kafka’s Castle”(detail), installation at pasio, 2017
Behrang Samadzadegan, “The Chronicle of Cenmar’s Descent in Kafka’s Castle”(detail), installation at pasio, 2017
Behrang Samadzadegan, “The Chronicle of Cenmar’s Descent in Kafka’s Castle”(detail), installation at pasio, 2017
Behrang Samadzadegan, “The Chronicle of Cenmar’s Descent in Kafka’s Castle”(detail), installation at pasio, 2017
Behrang Samadzadegan, “The Chronicle of Cenmar’s Descent in Kafka’s Castle”(detail), installation at pasio, 2017
Behrang Samadzadegan, “The Chronicle of Cenmar’s Descent in Kafka’s Castle”(detail), installation at pasio, 2017
Behrang Samadzadegan, “The Chronicle of Cenmar’s Descent in Kafka’s Castle”(detail), installation at pasio, 2017
Behrang Samadzadegan, “The Chronicle of Cenmar’s Descent in Kafka’s Castle”(detail), installation at pasio, 2017