Within the framework of the Impakt Works residency programme, Impakt invited Canadian video artist Aleesa Cohene. The Impakt Works residency programme aims to support media artists in the production of new work. Over a period of two months, the resident artist receives a reimbursement, accommodation, and access to various technical facilities.

During her residency, Cohene will produce the work Something Better. This video installation consists of three monitors, each displaying a different film. Psychology and emotion are the central elements of this work. The spectator is confronted with diverse emotions which, when brought together, form a character. With offensive behaviour presented on the one hand, and emotions such as fear confronting the spectator on the other, each screen presents a different character. What is particularly interesting is that these characters cannot be defined as individuals; rather, they create a collection of auditory, visual, and narrative elements.

The distinct characters enter into dialogue with one another: they argue and engage in discussion. Gradually, the perspectives of the different characters come to the fore, revealing how these views lie at the root of situations of conflict. Against the background of these images, music is used to illustrate the tensions between the characters and the narrative structure. By the end, the music no longer merely accompanies the images and discussions, but develops into something grand and symphonic in its own right.

Something Better, like all the works produced by the artist over the past six years, departs from a deeper concern with meaning. Cohene takes a particular interest in what she describes as the “emptiness of the current political discourse in Canada.” In Something Better, she attempts to expose the influence of political discourse on individuals’ self-reflection by creating an intense and personalised experience of dialogue, discussion, and collectivity. According to Cohene, contemplating situations of conflict and the views of others enables us to develop a deeper understanding of our own personal perspectives. In other words, debate stimulates people to reflect on their own opinions.

Characteristic of Cohene’s work is her recycling of images from documentaries and television films, which she places in new contexts. She combines these images with voice-overs, music, and sound. An intriguing aspect of her practice is her use of multi-channel video installations, through which she operates at the intersection of film and visual art. Cohene approaches reality from a critical perspective and, through her work, comments on politics and visual culture—both of which have a significant impact on our lives.

As a part of her residency, she prepared and screened Something Better as an event; further information can be accessed here.