Microtonal

Microtonal is comprised of 200 borindos (also known as boreendo or bhorindo), an ancient clay wind instrument – recently added to UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding list – from the desert region of Sindh, Pakistan.

Exploring the stories, cultures and land that can be found in between the notes of the western chromatic scale, Microtonal is a collaboration between the award-winning artist studio Invisible Flock and the artists standing between the borindo and a form of cultural extinction: Allah Jurio, the only remaining craftsman who makes the borindo and Faqir Zulfiquar, the only known musician to play it.

Each borindo is brought to life by a small speaker poised just above its opening, tuned to the resonant frequency of their corresponding instrument. The shape of the instrument naturally amplifies otherwise imperceptible sine waves, creating a chorus of 200 instruments playing autonomously, with each individual borindo emitting sound in response to what is audible in their immediate environment – including the audience.

Originally commissioned for the 2022 Karachi Biennale (where it was awarded the Jury Prize) and now touring the UK for the first time, Microtonal represents the many musical cultures around the world that are disappearing as those who hold the knowledge become fewer in the face of globalisation.

Microtonal is produced by Invisible Flock in partnership with hcmf// and Centre for Cultural Ecologies in Art, Design and Architecture at the University of Huddersfield as part of the Cultures of Film programme; 2026 UK tour supported by Arts Council England through National Lottery Funding

The exhibition is open from Wednesday 25 November until Saturday 28 November as part of the hcmf// programme, and is open 10am - 3pm during this time. 

You can also join us on Wednesday 25 November from 4:30pm - 6:30pm to celebrate Microtonal with the artists - RSVP