“Sound art veterans The Bohman Brothers invest random words with unearned meanings via the eloquent juxtapositions of their elegantly neutral voices. After three decades of experimentation, these alchemists of banality, these banal chemists, turn everyday leaden language into poetic gold.” – Stewart Lee (reviewing the ‘Back On The Streets’ album)
Adam Bohman and Jonathan Bohman have been recording together since their early teens and playing live since 1984.
Their repertoire includes a combination of sounds created in the moment and distinct compositions including songs. They use unconventional instruments, household objects, dislocated text from found, literary and commercial sources and collaged layers of recordings.
Regular concerts started in the mid-90s in London at places like The Club Room in Penton Street, The Red Rose and The Klinker. From 2000 to 2005 they had their own concert series upstairs at The Bonnington Café in Vauxhall, London.
Working together they are in a number of groups, including : Secluded Bronte with Richard Thomas, The BBC with Richard Crow, Ischio Romantico with Leonard Aspen & Roger Boulding and The Dave Craught Five with Romuald Wadych. They have also worked with film-maker Peter Strickland on various projects. They have performed at Tate Britain, Tate Modern, Roundhouse, Royal Albert Hall, South Bank and numerous venues around the UK, Europe and America.
David Sherry : “My work includes performance, drawing, video, and sculpture. I am interested in making artworks that relate strongly to everyday life. Developing props, sculptures and videos influenced by my experiences and social surroundings.
Live performance is the focal point of my work, bringing together all the elements of my practice at one moment. I find the experience of performing extremely valuable. You set a date and a time and a place and you work towards an event that is always different.
Many of my recent works have taken on the structure of a stand-up performance, a sketch shows or a variety act. In these works, I incorporate a wide range of influences and opinions. These performances move from one idea to the next employing comedic, absurdist and factual approaches in quick succession. This is an inventive process, developing scripted narratives and actions,reperforming older works with new ideas in the same set. I enjoy the process of preparation, memorising ideas and improvising actions. Often expanding the dynamic by building props and locating normal actions while mixing authentic and fictional subjects of interest. These live stand-up pieces can incorporate many influences, distilling conversations, books and TV programs into a series of ideas.
Drawing is an important part of my practice, exploring ideas, opinions and perspectives. Trying to make something funny, what is funny? Developing characters and narratives that feed into my videos, sculptures and performance works.
Central to my approach is an understanding of what influences human behavior and opinion. Ordinariness is an important source for my work. Normality changes and moves forward quickly, giving us little time to process and question its impact.
Some of the themes that influence my thinking are aspirations of social and monitory success, classing ourselves and others through what we own and how we present ourselves socially. Much of my work questions cultural standards and self positioning through ideas of wealth and ownership.
In my work I isolate actions as a means of understanding what links people together consciously and subconsciously. Highlighting a common place action can explore deeper meanings beyond an ordinary moment, giving a valuable insight.”
Rotter otter is a new improvising quartet featuring Rose Dagul (cello), Hannah Ellul (synth/tapes), Ben Ellul-Knight (vocals) and Rebecca Wilcox (vocals/samples). Rotter otter make mulch music netted from the river bed.
