These ‘trees of gestures’ are in movement everywhere. Their forests walk through the streets. They transform the scene, but they cannot be fixed in a certain place by images. If in spite of that an illustration were required, we could mention the fleeting images, yellowish-green and metallic blue calligraphies that howl without raising their voices and emblazons themselves on the subterranean passages of the city, ‘embroideries’ composed of letters and numbers, perfect gestures of violence painted with a pistol, Shivas made of written characters, dancing graphics whose fleeting apparitions are accompanied by the rumble of subway trains: New York graffiti. ~ Michel De Certeau
I was reminded of De Certeau’s ‘trees of gestures’ when I spotted this graffiti through the autumnal turning leaves, as I walked along the Water of Leith on Sunday. I’m always so transported by this rural riverway stretching through the city of Edinburgh. Every now and then you get reminders that there does actually exist a city on either side of this vein of green, and one such reminder is graffiti such as in the photograph above.
While society generally abhors these spray-painted creations, I must admit to having a bit of a soft spot for them. I love the curving lines, the contrasting colours, the urban tang of anarchy. I love the idea that this ‘wandering of the semantic produced by the masses… make[s] some parts of the city disappear and exagerate[s] others, distorting it, fragmenting it, and diverting it from its immobile order’.
An amorphous, fragmented narrative writ large across the red-fired bricks.
Amy, your lens is truly admirable – it really does see the extraordinary that others can so easily miss in their haste for perfection – and I include myself in that!
I too love The Water of Leith. I used to live right on the banks, just up at Colinton and I’d be seen twice a day walking my dog first in one direction and then later in the day, the other. Fishing in the city didn’t occur to me until I saw the guys out casting, silence I didn’t think possible. Following the seasons was easy and a pleasure reminding me that there are indeed seasons, cycles of life.
It was busy too, people doing their workouts, in a rush, yet others sauntering and enjoying the touch of countryside which the walk could bring.
My friend attempted suicide just a couple of hundred yards from where I eventually chose to live and it was here that, each day, I would stop and give thanks for my ordinariness and also her extraordinariness. Beauty comes in so many guises and the fragments of the life we have and share are to be celebrated.
What a lovely reminder, thank you.
Jackie Walker´s last blog ..The Magician
Goodness me! It’s happened again!! Have you seen what I posted today??
There is certainly a deep synchronous invisible bond between us.
It’s amazing.
Bet other people don’t realise how this happens repeatedly with no prior discussion or planning!
love
Dad
Bob Leckridge´s last blog ..Creativity – the Partick frog
I too love graffiti when it’s art, but unfortunately here in San Sebastian too much of it is “tagging” – the ugly stuff that just shows how little respect people have for property and is just a mess.
Alex Fayle | Someday Syndrome´s last blog ..No, I Won’t Talk to You: Why Someday Syndrome Offers Email-Based Coaching
Oh dear me, I shared this post and forgot to actually comment! Amy, you have an incredible eye for beauty. While graffiti is distasteful to many, it is a raw expression of passion. In many cities there are programs that harness this raw artistry and train these street artists to use their passion to create works for schools, community centers and even upon canvas. I am not surprised that their raw beauty did not escape your eye.
Karen Swim´s last blog ..Bad Writing, Spinach and Mid Week Musings