Friday 12 March 2010

Friday Flaneur (3) - Pavement artist


Being as honest as you can, what did you notice first - the image he was reproducing, the padding to protect his knees, or the extent of his vitiligo?


Flaneur (n). A person who strolls the city in order to appreciate it.
Are YOU a flaneur - a la Baudelaire or Sontag?

24 comments:

Janet said...

Now that is amazing! We don't see pavement artists in South Africa! What a talented young man!

Birdman said...

I LOVE what you've captured here. The art, the color, the artist!
By the way, piccalilli is chopped very fine cucumber then pickled! Scrumptous!

brattcat said...

it was the beauty and intensity of his expression that my eye went to first. what an interesting question. what about you?

Anonymous said...

His beautiful arm.

Piyush Garyali said...

Great shots Julie and a nice compilation as well!

Babzy.B said...

A true artist !

Woody said...

Thanks Julie, these are greats shots!!

Unknown said...

My attention was first drawn to the small picture in his hand and surprise that he is able to translate that inot something so large. TThat is a rare talent.

Lois said...

I actually noticed the art first and everything else after I read your post. He certainly is concentrating on his work.

Coffeeveggie addict. said...

very nice capture and a very talented man....thanks for sharing this...btw,i consider my self a flaneur....co'z i i just really love to wandering just to see and appreciate what my host city have foor me,last sunday i just did enjoy wandering around kaohsiung again...thanks...

myletterstoemily said...

i am a flaneur a la will rogers.

lovely photos of a talented and
engrossed artist.

Joan Elizabeth said...

As I'm not a detail person, definitely the artwork. Also because I admire people who can draw ... coz I'm useless at it.

Julie said...

BC, The first think I needed to know as I walked up behind him, was how he could kneel on the pavement. I did not notice his vitiligo until I prepared the post.

Friends, I also did not notice until prparing the post, that he is not chalking directly onto the pavement but onto massive pieces of fibre-paper. We have other pavement artists who chalk straight onto the pavers. There was another young man just a few feet from this position two days later. My guess is that THIS young man hals from South America.

Marka said...

Actually, I first noticed the face he was painting.

Susan Ellis said...

Didn't notice the arm at all til you mentioned it...saw the photo and the yellow hair firsst...then all the rest. Interesting isn't it..another take on "if we could see ourselves as others see us"

Bruce Caspersonn said...

That he wasn't doing it from memory.

Virginia said...

Oh Julie,
A brilliant capture of the artist and his work. I will revisit this lovely post. I'm proud that Eric brought us together. I learn from you daily. Not just images. Words as well. A blessing.
V

Unknown said...

I love the action shot.

Vicki said...

I really like your flaneurs, Julie. It's one of my favourite posts of the week.

TheChieftess said...

I love the first shot!!!

diane b said...

OK so I had to look it up in a dictionary. A man who idly walks the streets observing.
I first noticed his colourful shirt, his dark hair, the art, the picture before the skin problem.

Julie said...

man - woman - person!!

Anonymous said...

I have the impression to be there watching the painter.

Julie said...

It was good to be able to circle around the artist for that very reason. Took the viewer right down to where he was working.