Multi-media project that explored the influence of language and culture in the personal and collective identity of Canadian teens and young adults living in Toronto and Montréal. In preliminary workshops at University of Toronto and Oboro Montréal the participants analyzed different approaches to advertising, news, music videos and pop culture materials while learning video production and media literacy. The participants in Toronto then partnered with participants in Montréal and the pairs exchanged video dialogues over three months, meeting as a group twice a month via video teleconferencing.
The final videos were shown in galleries and libraries and projected from storefronts in each city. The public recorded their responses to the project and their thoughts about the relationship between language and culture in English and French speaking parts of Canada. The project culminated in a video teleconferencing event linking the Canadian sites and participants with young American artists in residence at Gertrude Stein Repertory Theater in New York.
Identity/Identité was produced in collaboration with Canadian artist Deborah Bennet and funded with support from Birger Christensen, ITIF, Magna International, Obobo Montréal, University of Toronto, Concordia University and Exposure NYC.