The city as a nature reserve
Someone said: “Nothing is more taming and inviting to behave like a flock than a museum…”
In this context, I wonder whether we can perceive the city of Amsterdam, which is my domicile, as an expanded open-air museum.
I am writing a letter, I chalk it on the sidewalk – there, where all the passengers pass-by, they come to ‘read’ this city – to read it’s map – it’s history – (an immense migration cue how long can this go on) – it’s history – an immense migration cue – those who are at the rear – try to look over the shoulders of those who are in the front – Curious – envious – patient – thousands and thousands of people from all over the world – are invited to join their gazes – upon these ancient bricks – these ancient muddy waters – paintings – sculptures – churches – palaces – workman-houses – mills – flowers – trees – cheese – waffles – pancakes – burgers – fries – sneakers – gadgets – catch-gets – must-haves – souvenirs – snap -shots – gathering – hunting – hunter & gatherer still present in these contemporary chase of… of what? Of beauty? Glory? Leisure? Art? Culture? Entertainment?
While writing down these words on the busy street of this so beloved city, I wonder,
How long will these words last
How many feet will tres-pass these words
How many eyes will cast down their gaze to actually read these words
How many shoe-soles will shuffle on these pavements before they fade out these letters.
This letter.
How many gazes will touch upon this city before its facades will decay
How many words from how many mouths, uttering their oh’s and awe’s, will fill these narrow alleys and ascend into the sky above. How long will it take for these common breaths, to evaporate in the air.
High above these streets, clouds are chasing through the skies, famous cloudy skies, depicted by painters, ancient views, oil-pasted on canvas, screenshots from the past cherished in the now.
A panoramic view on a past landscape.
Still the sky still mimicries its shapes high above and far away.
Hop-on hop-off shifts, will bring those who long for the real, analogue experience, to the outskirts where its still existing ‘weidsheid’ (‘vastness’) [unaware of its naïve sublimity] lies await, waiting to become depicted anew…
Before…
before and after….
all is colorised by the next cue of word-clouds
MARIKENOVERDIJK 