Order and Anarchy

Make of it as you will.

Although I truly am marveling at this image, I'm not sure that order and anarchy necessarily are contradictory concepts.  I'm thinking in a sociopolitical sense that, before any organized governments or societies existed, at least some people may have chosen to bring order to their lives.  

 

Then again . . . I see elements in this image that may obey the tenets of Euclidean geometry and others that do not.  Examples of the 1st - the grating on the window, the bricks, the lines on the pavement, and the posts.  Example of the 2nd - the graffiti (all of it).

Nice composition, as well. Some of the worst graffiti is in Chinatown in Oakland. I always assume that it is the product of too much effort put into taking the wild out of kids. I don't know the graffiti situation in Japan (is this Japan, even?), but based on your pictures, there is quite a bit. Unless, of course, you are merely evilly misrepresenting the poor Japanese people, at which point, I think you deserve all that Trump has threatened civilization with.

There is indeed a sense of symmetry and chaos. But some of  the more discerning graffiti artists must be congratulated on finding a wall with graph paper like characteristics on which they can practice their art!

Very well done!

 

Alf

Very cool image Jack. The above comments with their very good analysis and insight can hardly be disagreed with.....me I like the window with the bars leaning over. Great shot.

BR, Holger

Great urban scene and find, like the composure and balance.

Graffiti rubs me the wrong way. Good to see a talented artist give it value in more acceptable art.

I agree with order and anarchy title  and I really see them as mutually exclusive. The bars on the window intrigue me especially as I expected to see only verticals and horizontals.

Wow, Jack.  This really works.  I love the blue and white--and that "trashed" window grating just puts the exclamation mark to the whole theme inhering in the title.

 

--Lannie

These days, I'm liking a bit of anarchy, since authority seems to have been taken over by a mindless but also very dangerous clown. I may trust the anarchists more than those who are promising to restore order (the old order, that is). In any case, while I have mixed feelings about graffiti, having had to deal with its cleanup when my business was located downtown, I do have an appreciation that some of it is a genuine expression of inner city life from those who don't otherwise have a voice. If I have to put up with Madison Avenue's billboards trying to sell me things I don't want, I'm not that miffed by bolder and more colorful tagging gracing so many parking lots and train stations. And it's not like any of our thoughts are superfluous to your photo since you've established a contrast which is somewhat tension-producing, which can often seem to create a bit of a blank canvas on which imaginations can draw (or spray paint).

Thanks for the comments, By the way, I'm in the Bay Area for a bit, currently in Novato at my sister's house but will be in SF, probably from sometime Saturday through Wednesday. If you have some time, maybe we can meet for lunch or something.

That would be great. I'm sending you a PN message.