Amal Khalaf and Stephanie Comilang discuss her SB16 film installation 'Search for Life II', investigating socio-cultural and technological influences on migration, labour and ideas of belonging. Working in a genre she refers to as science fiction documentary, Comilang layers places and timelines, alongside human and non-human characters such as seafarers and monarch butterflies, to tell multifaceted migration stories. Their conversation reflects on how cargo ships and pearls embody complex narratives of movement, globalisation and industrialisation. Listen to an excerpt from her first iteration of her film 'Search for Life'. The second part is being presented at SB16. 

'Search for Life II' is on view at Al Mureijah Square from 6 February until 15 June 2025.

CREDITS 

Host: Amal Khalaf 

Guest: Stephanie Comilang 

Editorial and Content Strategy: Jyoti Dhar, Kamayani Sharma and Mahshid Rafiei

Podcast Producer: Kamayani Sharma

Sound Engineer: Basil Kisswani 

Shownotes: Rajwant Sandhu and Suguna Sridhar

Music and Sound: Excerpt from 'Search for Life' (2024) by Stepanie Comilang 

Special Thanks: Nawar Al Qassimi, Jiwon Lee, Abdulla Aljanahi and Raja’a Khalid

© Sharjah Art Foundation, 2025 

This episode was recorded on 3 December 2024.

Search for Life II is commissioned by TBA21, Sharjah Art Foundation and The Vega Foundation.