Urban Ontology I

Surface abstraction of cities and urban phenomenology.

Poetic surfaces and chiseled writing

Architectural Opportunism in Middle East

I was walking along the alley where all the gold is sold and came along the place where I photographed an old structure and posted it 3 months ago. The speed of new construction here in the Middle East amazes me. Next time I pass the building will be complete.

February 15, 2007

November 17, 2006

Bathhouse with small domes on the ceiling which transfer rays of light to the main space constituted of a central fountain and elevated chambers for resting.

The amphibian landscape

[...] "but they have a body which is of a kind of intermediate nature between all these, of an arid substance, softer than muscle, and in other respects of a nature that may, in strictness, be rather pronounced yielding, than hard. Such, then, is all that they are, and nothing more: in the inside of their bodies there is nothing, except in some few, which have an intestine arranged in folds. Hence it is, that even when cut asunder, they are remarkable for their tenacity of life, and the palpitations which are to be seen in each of their parts." (Pliny, the Elder)

Out on a night of Muharram there are strange contraptions built on top of vehicles which are driven around almost like parade floats, replacing the hand carried lighting used 1,300 years ago or only a hundred years ago. Florescent lights of all colors illuminate these things while feather dusters and other trinkets hang from them for decoration. Snapshots from the car as they are not to be photographed.

Seven Turns alley.

Sprawling 1,000 year old citadel. They said it was deserted but there was a guy guarding a door inside as if he lived there. Further in the dark spaces seemed to hold someone or something; twilight approached and it was too risky to explore every twist and turn.

Oxide-coloration and an ancient arch.

After Sunset

Before Sunset

Thinking today about the irony that it is snowing here and New York is presently struck by global warming.

I noticed it through an aged mirror on a building across the street; it reminded me vaguely of the Coney Island roller coaster and the black image on the shopping bag from the store in Taksim. There is a never-ending monstrosity growing of steel arms both straight and curved expanding over the urban terrain and filling the Islamic sky causing the landscape to constantly shift as new appendages are built each day.

In the long corridor of the mosque, which was void of other visitors, to the left I saw a peculiar arched door which was glowing green. Up an old carved stone step with wood stair railings on each side. Yves Klein Blue was emanating up from a grating in the floor and filled the room mixing with the old construction - space was small maybe 12 feet by 12 feet at most. Looking to the left there was a staircase down leading to a long empty hall and there was something in front of me leading to an old stone staircase up, vaguely visible through holes in the wall. The eerie sound coming from the grate and its reverberations suspended further thoughts of exploration.