GMU:Urban Development Kit/Urban Space for Mind

From Medien Wiki

Mind the Gap

Mind gap underground.jpg

I decided I wanted to take the London Underground Announcement recording 'Mind the gap' from 1969 and play it, out of context, in the streets of Weimar.

When the phrase is out of context (not meaning between the platform and the station) any other, new meaning/s can be attributed to it.

My own reading of this iconic phrase out of context: Is that it asks us to pay attention to the gap BETWEEN thoughts. A way of meditation. The gap here being the space of awareness between mental activity, which, this space of awareness is always there, present, when there is thought and when there is no thought.

AN example in British literature, would be from Aldus Huxlyes last book 'The Island' where a Utopian, social experiment functions on a nis land. there, the community have trained Parrots to say 'Remember biys, here and now, boys, here and now'. S a way of helping the people stay in the present moment. edit and add referece..

Others could take this in other directions, the gap between education and work or cultural gaps. Or physical gaps, like the one between the two libraries in Weimar...

In 1968 Peter Lodge, a Sound Engineer, recorded himself saying the phrase, after the original actor demanded royalties.

I recorded the audio of Peter Lodge saying the Phrase from this site: https://audioboo.fm/boos/1111085-peter-lodge-mind-the-gap

After borrowing a portable Bose speaker from a friend (thank you very much Pia) I took to the street for an evening and a morning, for some test try outs.

Bose setup.jpg

First tests (shot on mobile phone)

Link below is to a playlist on youtube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mOA8Qm7o_T0&feature=share&list=PLYwnDsL-UvKUTlx2Lm2LdgPZNMNLHBcRR

Next tests will be with a real camera. and bluetooth connection to speaker not cable, So that I can be hidden and film with an improved vantage point.

Mind gap text.jpg