With the last term upon us we look to reinvent our projects, approach them from different positions and re-imagine them in context with their own past and potential future.
“THE STRANGENESS THAT GRABED ME WAS PARTLY A LACK OF IMAGINATION MIXED WITH HESITANCY. CRUSHED VELVET MIXED WITH WINE AND THE SMELL OF COOKED MEAT HELD BACK MY RISING FRUSTRATION AND BRUSHED THE ATMOSPHERE WITH A SENSE OF CONTENTMENT AND COMFORT.
THE WINDOWS FRAMED A VIEW FOUR MILES WIDE.
SILHOUETTE-CITY.
DRINKS ARRIVED AND THE WAITER PLACED WINE GLASSES ON NAPKINS TURNED 45º TO THE TABLE’S EDGE, CUTLERY ARRANGED COMMANDO-STYLE JUST BELOW, FOR THOSE WHO DESPERATELY WANTED TO EAT THEIR FOOD RATHER THAN LOOK AT IT. A FOUR INCH STEAK KNIFE STRADDLED A KINDER-LOOKING FORK. DELICATELY NESTLING UNDERNEATH SAT A DESSERT SPOON, FLAT AND ELONGATED TO THE SIDE WITH A HANDLE SQUEEZED AT IT’S TIP TO WITHIN MILLIMETRES OF ITSELF. IT WAS AS IF IT WERE MADE FROM SPUN SUGER YET WAS AS COLD AS IVORY COULD BE IN A ROOM OF THIS TEMPERATURE.
THE VIEW ACROSS THE TABLE SURFACE ECHOED A MASTER-PLAN, A LAND-LOCKED DEVELOPMENT OF EXCLUSIVE EATERIES AND PARKS MADE FROM LINEN LACED TOPIARIES AND ARRANGEMENTS OF FLOWERS PINNED TOGETHER WITHIN AN INCH OF THEIR FLORAL-LIVES. THE MASTER-PLAN SPOKE OF A CITY RESPLENDENT WITH URBAN WEALTH BUT LACKING IN CULTURAL DIVERSITY. THE PEPPER SHAKER AND SALT MILL TOWERED ABOVE THE FINANCIAL CONDIMENTS LIKE A BANKER READY TO LEAP FROM BAD INVESTMENTS; THE PLATES ARRANGED AND GARNISHED WILL MINIMAL APLOMB BUT WITH LITTLE REGARD TO THE DINNER GUEST ABOUT TO EAT OR THEIR SURROUNDING CUTLERY; THE GLASSES AND WATER BOTTLE IRRADIATED BY LIGHT POURING THROUGH THE WINDOWÂ RENDERED THEM INVISIBLE YET CAST MAMMOTH SHADOWS THAT IMPOSED THEIR STEALTH AND WEALTH UPON THE TABLE-SCAPE BELOW.
IN THE REAL WORLD, THE WORLD OUTSIDE, THE WORLD BEYOND THE GLASS BEHIND ME CHARGING ELEPHANTS ROAMED THE STREETS. TRAFFIC LIGHTS AND ROADWORK CONES WERE SYSTEMATICALLY REMOVED AND REDEPLOYED TO AVOID CONFUSION AND WIDEN ONCE NARROW ARTERIES. THE STREETS WERE SLOWLY FREED FROM TRAFFIC-CALMING OBSTACLES AND THE ONCE CONSERVATIVE LANDSCAPE I NOW GAZED UPON SLOWLY OPENED UP LIKE A FLOWER BEFORE MY VERY EYES. THE ‘URBANE’ BLOSSOMED IN WAYS UNIMAGINABLE AND YOU COULD FAINTLY MAKE OUT THE FACES OF PEOPLE BELOW GRADUALLY EXPRESS A KIND OF JOY AND RE-FOUND LOVE FOR THEIR CITY, ONCE AGAIN.”
Past and Potential Futures, Abstract 12