Still from Both, Instrument & Sound (2024) courtesy of the artist.
Both, Instrument & Sound
Sharlene Bamboat
Residency project:
During her residency, Sharlene will be developing a multi-channel installation titled Both, Instrument & Sound which is an extension of her latest film of the same name.
Both, Instrument & Sound
Sharlene Bamboat
16mm & Super 8mm, 5.1 Sound & Stereo, 40 min. Canada, 2024
Both, Instrument & Sound employs tension as an aesthetic strategy, to explore solidarity, collective struggle, and the transformation of these values under neoliberalism. The film follows the life of Tony over 3 years as he describes his process of political activism from the 1970s onwards, which cannot be disentangled from his friendships and his lovers.
The film’s score - co-written with musicians, the film’s cast and crew - sonically explores different interpretations of tension—both in response to Tony’s narration and to the musicians’ existing approaches to tension as a musical, cinematic, scientific, and political experience. Everyone translates, performs and remixes it using instruments of their choice.
In the face of a growing politics and language of individualism Both, Instrument & Sound questions how our discourses and practices of solidarity have changed since the rise of neoliberalism. Through hand-processed 16mm film, poetry and collective listening practices, the collision of flesh and friendship, sonic and visual tension and the complications of solidarity are explored.
Stills from Both, Instrument & Sound (2024) courtesy of the artist.
Sharlene Bamboat
Sharlene Bamboat is an artist based in Tiohtià:ke/Montreal. Her practice engages predominantly with moving-images & sound to explore translation, history and fractured ways of understanding the relationship between the self and the social in transnational contexts. She collaborates frequently with artists, musicians, writers and artist-run collectives and organizations. Her work has been exhibited internationally.
Crédit photo: Alex Tran