Distance of Distinct Vision

Description:

Laiwan’s solo exhibition Distance of Distinct Vision examined how perception is shaped by language, cultural perspective, and location. The installation was composed of three sections of blueprint pages printed with photographic images and texts translated from English into French, while a section of four cibachrome photographs formed the epilogue of the sequence. The exhibition examined the process of translation, and how language—specifically English—creates ambiguity and dominance through which cultural constructs can be perpetuated.

The work was based on observations that emerged over seven years, from Laiwan’s first visit to China and Hong Kong in 1985 to her return to her city of birth, Harare, Zimbabwe, where she lived from 1989 to 1992. The images in Distance of Distinct Vision paired photographs taken in China, Hong Kong, British Columbia, and Montreal, amplifying their similarities to deconstruct notions of the exotic; as well as imagery drawn from news sources and fashion advertisements.

An artist book with texts by Laiwan, Prabha Khosla, and Andrew Morrison accompanied the exhibition. 

Curated by Brice MacNeil.