I still like to get lost. It's that chance of discovery. Though after almost six years living in Katsura it's nearly impossible for me to get truly lost. But I do like to try. A nice long dérive is good for the mind and body.
It was the French philosopher Guy Debord who conceived la dérive (the drift) in 1956. It is basically a long, aimless walk where the rover allows him or herself to "be drawn by the attractions of the terrain". The dérive is closely linked to Debord's theory of urban exploration and pedestrian movement called psychogeography. What is it in the landscape that guides us when we wander? Why do we choose this street instead of that street? Why do we turn left instead of right? Note: following a coloured line on Google Maps with your smartphone is not a dérive. You must free yourself of all conventions and just go. Walk without purpose or destination.
I am fascinated by this idea. And I've tried to make notes of my own walks.
What attracts me to a street:
kawara roof tiles, aged shitami (wood siding), pre-Heisei (1989-2019) architecture, elegant modern architecture, water - rivers, streams, canals, narrow streets, streets that curve, gentle hills, lush greenery - trees, flowers, stone walls, bamboo fences
What repels me from a street:
large apartment blocks, high walls, contemporary plastic architecture, thoughtless or oppressive architecture, no greenery, wide streets, heavy automobile traffic, a barren wasteland, disrepair, junk, the profusion of asphalt and concrete, wire mesh fences
No comments:
Post a Comment