If you cross the Hauptbrücke, you might notice that there are (more and more) padlocks hanging from the net of steel rope that forms the railing on one side (and now starting to spill over onto the other side as well). Take a closer look to see what they are all about…
Today, on my way to work, I witnessed the construction of one of the first art installations for “Steirischer Herbst” (which literally means “Styrian Autumn”), an international art festival that takes place every year. On Tummelplatz (often locally referred to as “UFO-Landeplatz” – “UFO landing site” – because of the little green spotlights set in between the paving stones), this was being constructed – apparently a project about the effectiveness of art in public spaces, and, as the official website puts it, a space for “interventions intended to create public effect, a political terrain of common affairs”. Transferred into this context, even previously unpolitical quotes from pop music become politicized…
Ever since I got back home (and back online), I’ve been wanting to say something, and now I’ve finally found a way to respond, which came to me in the shape of a persistent ear worm (that might be far from new, but sadly still highly topical).
So listen here, in the face of the FPÖ and BZÖ‘s election campaigns and the French government’s so-called immigration strategy…
And when they come to ethnically cleanse me
Will you speak out? Will you defend me?
Or laugh through a glass eye as they rape our lives
Trampled under foot by the right on the rise
(Thanks, Natural History Museum, London!)
Apparently, in Graz some things are different: Communist Knucklehead.
(Thanks to Kris for pointing this out to me.)
Two windows just around the corner from my grandma’s place…
I hope those mannequins don’t come alive at night.
