Wednesday 18 January 2012

there is beauty in the city - the conversation - #19

In response to Igor...


The growth of a city is often inextricably linked to the efforts and presence of one or two notable figures. Post-industrial cities can often be dominated by the ghosts of the same figures.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Josiah_Wedgwood

Saturday 14 January 2012

there is beauty in the city - the conversation - #18

a quick reply from igor brings into question our cities' heroes...


Plaques, monuments, statues, street names ... the cities are full of signs and landmarks that celebrate, commemorate or highlight people and events that are assumed to have played an important role in the development of today’s city.
But those urban marks go back to past times and tell us stories which, as history itself, should be revisited and reinterpreted every now and then, as the official history not always tell us the truth.


Rafael Sánchez Mazas was a founding member and leader of the *Falange and Minister during the Franco regime. Today, there is no reason why such a significant character of the Franco dictatorship should give name to a walk in Bilbao.


*A fascist political movement and party

Wednesday 4 January 2012

there is beauty in the city - the conversation - #17

in reply to igor...


urban markings create memorials to human presence and events. cities are, in some part, a product of these presences and occurences which combine to create narratives that make each city unique.

 pc john taylor was pushed from a building while attempting to apprehend a burglar.