IHE Delft Artist-in-Residence Roger Anis: Capturing the Nile’s water stories
As a visual storyteller and photographer, IHE Delft’s artist-in-residence, Roger Anis, brings a unique perspective combining his personal and professional journey along the Nile River. Born in Minya, a city on the Nile in central Egypt, Anis’s strong personal connection with the Nile has shaped his fascination with the river. Anis has devoted his career to capturing Nile-related stories that transcend geography and borders while highlighting the lives of the millions who live along its banks.
Anis, who began his six-month term as IHE Delft artist-in-residence at the beginning of October, sees the Nile as a companion in his daily life. Combined with his natural affinity with water, this has led him to document the Nile's stories from Egypt to Ethiopia, Sudan and Rwanda. He has captured social movements and marginalized communities, and examined complex environmental and social issues. “Everything about water attracts me,” he said, adding that he sees water as a resource and a theme that connects humanity at profound levels.
Since 2017, Roger Anis’ photojournalism has brought attention to social struggles, environmental threats and the often-overlooked communities that rely on the Nile. His images capture the resilience and spirit of Egyptians during pivotal moments, such as the 2011 Egyptian uprising, the COVID-19 pandemic and the challenges faced by marginalized communities. “Photojournalism allows me to understand and portray my community,” he said, adding that photography’s accessibility enables him to document and share stories that might otherwise go unseen.
Forgotten rituals
The photo exhibit ‘Where is the Bride of the Nile?’, on display at IHE Delft until 30 November, reflects humanity’s shifting relationship with the river. Inspired by the ancient myth of the Bride of the Nile—a tale of a maiden sacrificed to appease the Egyptian god of the Nile, Hapi — Anis questions how modern communities view and value this life-giving river. The project led him to revive forgotten rituals, including an annual Nile parade on an island in Cairo. Combining ancient practices with contemporary narratives, he worked closely with local fishermen and communities to spotlight both the river's significance and the urgent environmental challenges it faces today.
Art has the potential to reshape the way people perceive their environment, especially in the face of climate change, Anis said: “Art can convey knowledge in an engaging way.” By sparking curiosity, he hopes his work will inspire others to think critically about their relationship with water. Photographs, Anis said, reach audiences across cultures and education levels, inviting people to explore, learn and act: “When people see these stories, it’s more than just awareness. It’s an invitation to rethink our connection to resources like the Nile.”
“When people see these stories, it’s more than just awareness. It’s an invitation to rethink our connection to resources like the Nile.”
Understanding of water’s critical role
Scientists and artists can collaborate to create impactful dialogues, Anis said, arguing that art can be a bridge that translates scientific insights into compelling stories. Through his work with Aquamuse and the Living Waters Museum, Anis strives to broaden public engagement with water-related issues. Through workshops, exhibitions, and his residency at IHE Delft, he aims to make complex water narratives more accessible and to spark a collective appreciation and understanding of water’s critical role in sustaining life.
During his residency, Roger will work with colleagues from IHE lab to explore different ways of looking at water, particularly through the microscope, and with social scientists from the Water Governance Department to investigate links between water quality, quantity and distributions in Egypt,” says Emanuele Fantini, senior lecturer and researcher in Water Politics and Communication, who organised the residency. “In this collaboration, as a researcher, I hope to be inspired and provoked by Roger’s artistic gaze, so that I can look at water with new eyes, questions, and perspectives. Together, artists and scientists, I hope we will be able to contribute to the development of a new language that is badly needed to address the unprecedented climate events and the water problems we are facing.“
In this collaboration, as a researcher, I hope to be inspired and provoked by Roger’s artistic gaze, so that I can look at water with new eyes, questions, and perspectives
Aquamuse
Aquamuse is a project funded by Water and Development Partnership Programme and lead by the Living Water Museums (India), it also involved other artists, researchers and educators in Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia and Burkina Faso.
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