Mind the Gap
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.
The phrase also reminds me of Aldous Huxley's last novel 'Island' 1962 where a Utopian, social experiment functions on an island called Pala. There, the community have trained Parrots to say 'Attention. Here and now, boys, here and now', a method of helping the people stay in the present moment. - http://www.huxley.net/island/
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.
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.
