Some people pose naturally. Others go out of their way to pose for certain reasons – to make money, for fame, for art, to be noticed for a cause. On the Continent, the poseurs’ evening stroll along the main street, or promenade, is something of a national sport. Then there is voyeurism. The art of being watched.
Reality TV has people fighting and fornicating before our eyes… and George Galloway on all fours, slurping milk in a feline frenzy from the floor. As I watched the Sinking of the Concordia: Caught on Camera on Channel 4 earlier in the week, I couldn’t help thinking how fortunate it was that the brave souls on the sinking Titanic weren’t being filmed.
Although we live in a surveillance society, we wouldn’t want to discover that someone was taking our photograph without us knowing. Or would we? As we go about our daily business, how many of us are being monitored, spied upon, or recorded on camera? Perhaps by Estonian artist Marko Maetamm, like these shots taken for his Postcards from Paris series. Each has a caption, added by the artist (click on the image twice to read).
And here are some photographs I took a few weeks ago. What do they say about people? What do they say about me? And what are these people saying?
I hope, Susan, that the spooky lady, drinking alone, didn’t object. Knitting needle in right ear springs to mind. Modern malaise, point n’ click, brought on by the demise of film. A friend, a Chamonix guide, finished a climb with two punters, the one that ends at the Aiguille du Midi station’s observation platform. As ever there were dozens of grockles clicking away, much to Marc’s amusement one of his punters approached a snapper and asked could he download the photies onto his laptop, handily nestling, with convenient card reader, in his rucksack. Ideal bit of survival kit, a 15 inch Asus.
Said lady was reflected in the mirror opposite my seat, malty (so not a direct hit!) though I think she may have noticed me taking the photograph. I found her simply fascinating – have you ever played the game where you try to guess what people you pass by in the street do for a living? That spooky look is surely a clue, perhaps indicating some involvement with the Italian fashion mafia?
Lagerfeld’s Deutschen Mutter, she has that certain Coco Chanel coquettishness about her person, the YSL specs add flavour. According to wikipedia she was in the trade, selling knickers.
Mr. Maetamm calls to mind an old obiter dictum of Flann O’Brien’s: What is called art is so often simply a vocational malfunction.
Since the turn of the century there died in Wyoming the popularizer of the “jackalope”, a jackrabbit with antelope horns. He made some pocket money out of the sale of mounted heads and postcards. Had he practiced his trade south of the numbered streets in Manhattan, no doubt he’d have risen to the art-world eminence of Jeff Koons, who in no way outdoes him in technical ability.
Similarly, aren’t these pictures all but the same as postcards that have been sold in resort towns–at least in America–for a hundred years or so? It’s a shame that the hacks of Atlantic City didn’t know that they were artists.
Perhaps your “hacks of Atlantic City” should be introduced to the work of Susan Hiller, George?
Guy in the cake shop, second down, is obviously thinking,
“by Allah, I could murder a pint”
Third down,
“Right, if Rita takes hold of all our caps and jackets, we’ll reach our morning targets and be back in the canteen before the Canley Road mob.”
Fourth down,
“Sigh…stood up again. Third time this week. That’s the last time I’ll be using the Alzheimer Society Dating Agency.”
Your secret’s out, Ian – you’re a professional caption writer, no? The photo at the very top of this post is in need of explanation too… What or who was papparazzi-man pointing his huge lens at?
Oh, that’s just Gary Lineker round the back of the crisp factory.
Couple one on the bench are appalled by the new globe light on top of The Shard
Oh it’s a couple! Thought it was one fella.
Okay, couple in park,
Woman: “Do you think he looks like that David Tennant from the back, or the gay one from the Street?
Man: “Dunno. Look, why can’t we just go along to Argos and get a flamin’ new telly?!”
The top one of Susan’s,
” “Dearest Vladimir and Estragon. Thank you so much for your kind invitation. Sadly, and with much regret, I find I am unable….” No, no, no, that won’t do! “Dear Didi and Gogo. How’s things with you two? About that meet up, now. Sorry, but…sorry…but…” Ah, feck it… Sure, I’ll be off home and say I just forgot.”
(translated from the French)
Second from top could be,
Voice (cockney), centre: “Okay, Trump, so your jacuzzi’s bigger than mine! So what?!”
Voice, off shot: “You’re Fired!”
Thanks for all your captions Ian… your true vocation writ large!