At University I researched the impact of international aesthetics on signage. I was mostly concerned with the use of different writing systems and how they can become redundant of meaning in the modern globalized World. This means using letters or characters to ‘decorate’ with no consideration for their meaning. I’m particularly interested in multilingual signs, which indicate a point of origin, and translation in signs and notices. By translation I mean bad translations and misused or misspelt words which can totally alter meaning. These studies went on to inform many pictures I took when I was travelling. I make a point of finding out of the way locations in cities where grafitti and informal fly postering occurs. By going on what is called a derive* I can reveal the hidden secrets of cities by the reams and reams of weird hand drawn or cheaply printed signs and posters. These photos are the hignlights of my discoveries in various places.
If you can guess the locations then leave a comment and I’ll let you know if you are correct. (click on the pic for a closeup)
* derive = unplanned journey through a landscape, usually urban, where an individual travels where the subtle aesthetic contours of the surrounding architecture and geography subconsciously direct them with the ultimate goal of encountering an entirely new and authentic experience.
The Happy Wanderer 