149/365: Games

149/365: Games, originally uploaded by Magic Madzik.

May 29th

Someone was having fun here. Kids in the city are creatures of great invention!

138/365: The brave of Kilińskiego #108

138/365: The brave of Kilińskiego #108, originally uploaded by Magic Madzik.

May 18th

Sitting Bull visits Poland.

126/365: 96 years ago: a mural

126/365: 96 years ago: a mural, originally uploaded by Magic Madzik.

May 6th

A mural by Urban Forms Street Art Foundation. They've been painting a series of murals all over Łódź over the last couple of years.

This one was across the street- it's clearly a bit older, but I don't know anything about it:

95/365: So many colours

95/365: So many colours, originally uploaded by Magic Madzik.

April 5th

This is a recent site. Like most building complexes in Łódź, this one died slowly, first succumbing to decay, then to demolition, and now...it's in limbo. People dump their trash and walk their dogs out here, or drink in the corners.

Other things I saw in Łódź today:

74/365: A comment on the rival football team

74/365: A comment on the rival football team, originally uploaded by Magic Madzik.

March 15th

"Widzew crouches when they pee."

I believe this is the most polite football fan graffiti I have ever seen.

Also, some advice from the mad prophet of Lodz:

He writes his worldly advice on the walls all over the city. Quotes from this instance:

"Maybe the Black Sea also, what? What does the writing say."

"River God from the mountains."

"Boniek shoots."

"On TV pitchforks from Bulgaria (God)"

"A fork: porno for the mouth of God"

And finally, a marvel of Lodzean architecture:

66/365: ŁKS in the sunshine

66/365: ŁKS in the sunshine, originally uploaded by Magic Madzik.

March 7th

A shortcut to the shopping centre, marked by ŁKS football club fans.

33/365:Green leaf

33/365:Green leaf, originally uploaded by Magic Madzik.

February 2nd

Someone decided that the iron-wrought fence around the Music Academy deserved a bit of colour. It counts as graffiti, I guess, vandalism...and that particular building is actually being kept in good shape, unlike the many others in the neighbourhood. So, I'm in two minds. I don't like when people spray over historic sites- but what an adorable idea, to have the leaves on the fence turn green in the middle of winter. :)

7/365: White

7/365: White, originally uploaded by Magic Madzik.

January 7th

Someone covered up football club graffiti with white paint.

336/365: Even a bottle of rectified spirit...

336/365: Even a bottle of rectified spirit..., originally uploaded by Magic Madzik.

December 2nd

...cannot substitute for Jesus.

Says the graffiti. Above, of course, the ŁKS football club brand. It's that neighbourhood.

319/365: I love Lodz

319/365: I love Lodz, originally uploaded by Magic Madzik.

November 15th

That's what I used to do before I had a full-time job...walk around town and take pictures! I remember now. I should do that again, since I'm not working anymore.

304/365: Fashion Week

304/365: Fashion Week, originally uploaded by Magic Madzik.

October 31

Sponsored by ŁKS football club. ;) Ah, those fans with their spraycans...

Here's another sign of their presence, the ŁKS flag:

220/365 Even the University looks like crap here

220/365 Even the University looks like crap here, originally uploaded by Magic Madzik.

August 8th

I love my shitty, dirty city.

214/365 I love Polesie

214/365 I love Polesie, originally uploaded by Magic Madzik.

August 2nd

Seen while waiting for the morning bus. Polesie is my neighbourhood. ŁKS is the football team. Kocham means I love, and the x.x is... who knows.

53/365: The Orange Alternative

53/365: The Orange Alternative, originally uploaded by Magic Madzik.

February 22nd

On December 13th 1981 Poland was put under Martial Law. In protest, citizens began to paint slogans of freedom on buildings, but these were promptly painted over by the military. It was not long before the cities were covered in dark blotches hiding the slogans- and it was on these blotches that members of the Orange Alternative painted, in turn, little dwarves. We call them 'krasnoludki', and they are something like a gnome or pixie, coming from old folklore with pointy shoes and hats and an unquenchable spirit of freedom and mischief. Over a thousand such gnomes were painted across the country.

The krasnoludek preserved under this sign was painted on a blotch of paint meant to cover up the anchor-like symbol of Fighting Solidarity, an anti-communist organisation. As the sign itself says:

"It is the only remaining mark of the originality and courage of the Orange Alternative, and proof that regardless of the times we live in, humour and laughter can prevail over the saddest reality."

Indeed. If you read up on the movement you will find such fantastic stories as that of the Revolution of Dwarves, when more than ten thousand people wearing orange gnome hats marched through the city of Wrocław. That was in 1988, a time when you did not have to do much more than that to get arrested- certainly carrying a leaflet that said 'Citizen, help the militia, beat your own self up' would not help your cause.

The Orange Alternative still exists today and still organises surrealist happenings meant to mock the absurdities which can stem from any system, and encourage independent thinking.