Young Christchurch Artist Takes Shopping Trolley on Epic Journey, Inspiring Calls for New Zealand Tourism
A young artist from Christchurch, Jack Carden, has embarked on a unique adventure that has captivated audiences and sparked a wave of support for New Zealand tourism. Carden, a 21-year-old fine art student, decided to turn an everyday task into a form of performance art by taking a shopping trolley on an unforgettable journey across breathtaking mountain ranges and picturesque beaches.
Carden, who boasts an impressive following of over 200,000 on Instagram and 900,000 on TikTok, is no stranger to viral success. However, his latest video has propelled him into the spotlight, with many urging him to become New Zealand’s newest tourism ambassador.
The video features Carden retrieving a shopping cart from a supermarket, accompanied by a thought-provoking voiceover reminiscent of the legendary David Attenborough. The voiceover describes the act of returning a shopping cart as a litmus test for an individual’s self-governing capabilities. It suggests that while returning a cart is an easy and convenient action that everyone knows is the right thing to do, there are no consequences for neglecting this responsibility.
As the voiceover plays, viewers are taken on a cinematic journey through Carden’s perspective, starting from a simple road and progressing to snow-covered mountains, muddy terrains, serene lakes, and stunning beaches. The unforgettable trip culminates with the shopping cart’s triumphant return to the supermarket, symbolizing the importance of doing what is right without being forced.
Carden revealed that the inspiration for the video came to him in a dream. After stumbling upon the impactful voiceover on another social media platform, he couldn’t shake off the idea. Despite the challenge of convincing others that a video featuring a shopping cart would be entertaining, Carden and his flatmate persisted and loaded the cart into their car.
The filming process took a couple of days, with Carden and his companion scouting locations reminiscent of the fantastical landscapes of Lord of the Rings, a beloved film series shot in New Zealand. However, the journey wasn’t without obstacles. The snowy terrain proved to be the most challenging, as a fierce snowstorm struck, causing the cart’s wheels to refuse movement. In the face of adversity, Carden and his flatmate had to carry the cart through the dense fog until they could resume pushing it.
Gravel and train tracks also posed difficulties during the expedition. Carden humorously noted that pushing a shopping cart in a supermarket was challenging enough, but attempting it on gravel felt impossible. He suspects that the cart’s wheels may have suffered some wear and tear after navigating such diverse landscapes.
Carden’s extraordinary video has garnered admiration for his artistic vision and the majestic natural beauty of New Zealand. Many viewers have praised the video for encouraging responsible actions and highlighting the significance of personal accountability. With his growing popularity, Carden may indeed be the perfect candidate to promote New Zealand as a captivating tourist destination.
As one ventures into the unorthodox and explores the extraordinary, inspiration is often found in unexpected places. Carden’s shopping cart odyssey serves as a reminder that even the most mundane actions can be transformed into profound artistic expressions. Perhaps in the future, we may find ourselves captivated by other artists who dare to transform seemingly ordinary objects into vehicles for introspection and inspiration.
