1994, Betacam, 52:18
Direction: Rebecca Garrett
Camera: Derek Rogers/Patrick Lindsell
Editing: Rebecca Garrett and Van LaPointe
Continental Drift was made while artist in residence and the National Gallery of Zimbabwe. Continental Drift began as a personal investigation of issues raised by the circumstance of moving between two geographical locations, Canada and Zimbabwe, for a period of four years.
This tape documents the world of imaginary thoughts and perceptions that shape and inform our notions of who we are, and who others are. In order to focus on similarities and differences, I created a structure of investigation. I went to parallel locations in Canada and Zimbabwe and asked a random sampling of people: “What do you imagine it’s like in Zimbabwe?” and “What do you imagine it’s like in Canada?”
The locations are diverse, ranging from safari parks and tourist sites, to low income housing projects, shopping malls, and human rights organizations.
The result is an intriguing and at times disturbing look at issues of culture and identity, and similarities and differences, and how people in Canada and Zimbabwe imagine other people and places.