Foam 3h is proud to present The Caspian “Lake” by non-fiction artist and photographer Khashayar Javanmardi. Javanmardi, who grew up in this region, has spent the last decade documenting the deterioration of the southern shore of the Caspian, which borders Iran.

His ongoing project captures the deterioration of the south shore of the Caspian Sea and underscores the need to connect political and structural change to everyday life in response to the mismanagement of the region and global climate crisis.

Often mistakenly referred to as a sea, the Caspian is in fact the world’s largest lake, home to a unique and fragile ecosystem. Mismanagement—alongside climate change and pollution—has had a devastating impact on the region’s environment, economy, and cultural life.

Because it is classified as a sea, the Caspian falls under inadequate and often inappropriate conservation regulations. Unless recognised as a lake, effective protection will remain out of reach.