We often write signs that say LOOK UP to remind ourselves to get our heads out of whatever we’re doing and look around. We also practice looking DOWN, and had been meaning to write about our wonderful discoveries doing just that on our daily park rambles, when Dutch artist Saskia de Brauw beat us to the punch.
Her new book The Accidental Fold is a catalogue of objects she’s found during her travels over the past decade. As she notated where and when she found the objects, they became a diary of sorts. Taken out of their environment, they become more graphic and intentional.
“They’re things that I’ve found on the street, worthless objects like pieces of paper, hairs, cards, paper airplanes, dried up pieces of fruit, or even an old shoe. Anything that strikes me as beautiful…
...I’m always interested in the moment when lives somehow accidentally cross. I think sometimes those accidental meetings can be small miracles, they can really change one’s perspective on that moment, and on life.”
She notated where and when she found the objects; they became a diary of sorts.
Taken out of their environment, they become more graphic and intentional and often quite beautiful.
We’ve found that we LIKE the gritty reality of our finds. The story is right there, like this curb edge with a very surprising message…
…We were astonished to find this drawing crumpled on the ground near the pool. It IS the pool, with some kid’s encouraging words: WE CAN DO THIS! JUST KEEP SWIMMING…
…We stumbled on this ring with no stone lying the grass of the field we do tai chi in. Wonder what it’s story is.
Our favorite find yet is this miraculous beauty: a Calder-esque spiral (we swear we didn’t style it!)…
All a testament to the great benefits to be gained from looking DOWN or better yet, just:
via AnOther
