(1998-06-06)

This project grew out of the numerous interviews I conducted on a four month research trip around the Caribbean. From Panama to Jamaica and Haiti to Surinam when questioned of unattainable dreams the answer was almost always the same. A sigh followed by the wish to travel across the seas to Lisboa, Paris, Amsterdam, Barcelona, Madrid, London, the capitals and major cities of their former colonial masters. Cinderella comes to the stage as a citizen of the Caribbean but come from anywhere in the developing world. Europe is the place of which she dreams in the same way as others dream of ancient Greece and Roman Empire. Now and again she feels a yearning to visit the past and the sites of her history and geography classes.

The dreamer is wrapped in the narrative of Cinderella transformed into a pair of golden shoes which are transported around the major sights / sites of Europe. On this Grand Tour the shoes are photographed in front of familiar landmarks in the style of so many tourist photographs. The aim of the journey is to see, record and return - home is too precious to leave forever and to be frank - there are better opportunities in America and Canada.

Date:1998-2001
Materials: Fuji Cristal Archive Digital Colour Prints
Size: 870mm x 870mm
Commission: Organisation for Visual Arts
Collections: FCO -Government Art Collection

This work was exhibited at A.T.H.A. [Archivo del Territorio Historico de Alva], Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain in November and is accompanied by a full colour catalogue with essay by Cheryl Finlay.