Forensic Architecture is a multidisciplinary research group based at ⁠Goldsmiths, University of London⁠ that uses architectural techniques and technologies to investigate cases of state violence and violations of human rights around the world.

Their investigations have provided decisive evidence in a number of legal cases, including in national and international courts in Germany, The Hague, Greece, Israel, Guatemala, as well as in citizen tribunals and human rights processes, leading to military, parliamentary, and UN inquiries. Alongside their presentation in such political and judicial forums, Forensic Architecture’s investigations have also been shown in cultural and artistic venues as examples of the use of creative practice in an image- and data-laden environment.

Sarah (Assistant Director / Operations) is responsible for overseeing all operational aspects of FA – including financial, HR, legal, and administrative matters – and strategic financial and operational planning.

She is a graduate of the University of Toronto (BSc) and the University of Cambridge (MPhil), where her research focused on the destruction of heritage sites in conflict.

Sarah joined the team in 2017, having previously worked at B+H Architects, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the Aga Khan Museum.

FA's investigation into the destruction of cultural heritage sites in Gaza (2018-2022), with human rights group Al-Haq, led them to call on The Prosecutor of the ICC to consider this destruction as amounting to war crimes, and to evaluate their potential contribution to apartheid as a crime against humanity under the Rome Statute.

Journalist ⁠Roshdi Sarraj⁠ was killed as he tried to shield his wife, Shorouq, and one-year-old daughter, Dania, from shrapnel ⁠in their family home⁠. He co-founded ⁠⁠Ain Media⁠⁠ with Yasser Murtaja. Murtaja was ⁠killed⁠ by an Israeli sniper while covering the 2018 Great March of Return. A 2019 UN inquiry found reasonable grounds to suggest there was ⁠intentional targeting of journalists,⁠ including Murtaja, by the Israeli army during the march. Ain Media were vital for the Living Archaeology in Gaza project.

Shawn Ginwight’s conversation with Brené Brown:

⁠https://open.spotify.com/episode/27qUt2DfcLROhzFZaO2gqG?si=d4e46b25a28d470d⁠

Joel Stokes on Silwan:

⁠https://www.palestine-studies.org/sites/default/files/jq-articles/“Silence%2C”%20Heritage%2C%20and%20Sumud%20in%20Silwan%2C%20East%20Jerusalem.pdf⁠

Organisations supporting Silwan:

⁠https://www.silwanic.net⁠

⁠www.iwitnesssilwan.org⁠

Information on Forensic Architecture taken from:

⁠https://www.tate.org.uk/whats-on/tate-britain/turner-prize-2018/forensic-architecture⁠

⁠https://forensic-architecture.org/about/agency⁠

Sarah's work:

⁠https://forensic-architecture.org/about/team/member/sarah-nankivell⁠

Living Archaeology in Gaza:

⁠https://forensic-architecture.org/investigation/living-archaeology-in-gaza⁠

Andrew Pierre Hart: Living Artistically, Creating Space and Communicating (1/2)

San ClementeBy Grace BaileyFeb 21, 2024