Observation I, May 21, 2020

This video was created shortly after the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global pandemic. In Canada, all non-essential businesses were closed, and the country was under stay-at-home orders. Under the definition of “essential,” those who continued to work were in finance, transportation, health, construction, agriculture, and service and maintenance. 

In this piece, a video camera is set up outside a brightly lit lobby of Canada Trust, one of the largest banks in Canada. Upon closer observation, a small red rectangle can be seen following a figure. Against the massive scale of the lobby, she is almost invisible. I added the red marking to protect her identity and, more importantly, to draw attention to her presence. Invisible labour that we hardly pay attention to is now what’s keeping the city running during this time of fear and uncertainty.