Red Rover

Dual Screen Video

“Red Rover, Red Rover, we call Thabiseng over!”
This chant begins a schoolyard game. Sides are chosen, the children form two opposing lines. They lock hands, and begin to chant. Each side calls to an opponent, singling out the weak to attempt to break their barrier. And the game begins…
Red Rover was played throughout the school years of both artists. Through this video installation, they attempt to recapture the experience of the game. For them, this is a game based on determination, strategy and intuition - a significant part of South African primary school life.
The video and audio are abrupt and fragmented, reflecting the snatches of recollection in the artists’ memories. Each have visions of dry, wintery school fields, of cheering shrieks and vivid feats.
The significance of the Red Rover game mirrors the artists’ relationship with each other, as collaborators and competitors. Their shared history of art making has been a balance between rivalry and support. They share a need to challenge one another as well as a precise sense of fairness.