Six artist videos, presented in three pairs, each stand alone, yet they are linked by the use of extra-diegetic audio—a layer beyond the sound that syncs up with what we see. One of the most prevalent examples of this added layer is the voice of the narrator, which is often used as an expository accompaniment, supporting the narrative in cinema. However, in these videos, the voice-over has been reimagined as a vehicle for interpretation and reflection, questions and provocations. The speaker who is heard as voice-over is never seen, and the language is suggestive of a complex and at times abstract inner world.
Each pair brings together an American and an Iranian artist, echoing the bi-location of Sazmanab’s exhibition venue in Tehran, and its mirror in The Other Apartment at the Mattress Factory in Pittsburgh. While the pairs are presented without thematic labels, close attention reveals associations between each duo; a description of the activities of a single person, mythological atmospheres, and a weaving of poetic rhythm and visual memory.