Sangam Sharma (♀)
Independent artist and experimental filmmaker
Mono (single channel video, 64min, 2015)
A mystical film on monolithic architecture, monophonic music and the ancient female* old. A piece about stones and single tones. A celebration of slowness. Ghost shots. Ghost space. A phantom (of the past). Static architecture of silence. Buried secrets. The forgotten.
(((❚)))
A dense video-audio dynamic, demanding and minimal, suggests a mysterious background story, a genesis of drone and stones. Alongside with atmospheric static shots of various ancient and modern monoliths (including an artificial one), the tale is performed in three languages (English, Welsh and Old Norse) narrated by women of different generations and cultures representing the ancient past, the current presence and the distant future. No actual reference to time or place is made.
Six musicians have designed music for different passages of Mono creating opaque sounds and spatial compositions establishing a further dimension, altogether shaping a film where sound, space and story merge together and become one.
The filmmaker has collaborated with accomplished performing artists and musicians to create this piece i.e. Buddug James Jones (renowned for her play Hiraeth), actress Scarlet Sweeney, musician Joss Bromley (musician i.e. Lone Omi, Corpse Lights, Woe), performance and sound artist Christina Nemec alias chra, Belgium Noise musician ASHTORETH, Drone artist raxil4 and violinist Chrysanthe Tan, as well as the Icelandic singer Heiða Árnadóttir. Established academics have also contributed to Mono such as Prof Richard North (Professor of English Language and Literature and expert of Old Norse at UCL) and Dr Siwan Rosser (Director of Celtic and Welsh Studies at the University of Cardiff).
Mono was shot in England, Wales, Austria and Slovakia.
watch full film
previous screenings
2020-tbc: web screenings as part of IKLECTIK's off-site Art Resistance (London/UK)
29/10/18-02/11/18 Screening at Galleri Snerk in Tromsø/Norway
21/04/18 Screening at Radiophonic in London/UK
04/08/17 Screening at Edinborg Cultural Centre in Isafjörður/Iceland
30/04/17 Screening at The Mez, Lincoln/Nebraska
02/04/17-01/05/17 Screening at Lemo Art Gallery Berlin/Germany
23/09/16 Screening at Hive Mind Akron/Ohio, audio performances by Neckline and Baat (Lisa Mirallia)
01/06/16 Screening at Ada in Vienna/Austria followed by a live performance from chra
13/05/16 Screening at Von Common Studios Missoula/Montana
23/04/16 Screening during 24 Hour Drone at Basilica Hudson/New York
31/03/16 Screening and Q & A at Dreamland in Buffalo/New York
30/03/16 Screening and Q&A at Aquehonga Cinema, Staten Island/New York City
18/12/15 Screening in Antwerp/Belgium at THE ALCHEMY OF EMBODIMENT
11/12/15 Premiere in All Hallow's Hall Bristol UK followed by a live performance from Joss Bromley
Mono is distributed by