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 In the first of our series of features on the fascinating world of
street art, we looked at America’s mysterious ‘Toynbee Tiles’, bizarre
messages engraved in tiles and embedded in streets across the states.
The more we thought about these tiles, the more we were reminded of
another curious work of public art lying a little closer to home in
Manchester.
If you’ve ever made the treck up Tib Street towards Afflecks Palace
chances are you’ll know what we’re talking about; the raised tiles
lining the way to Afflecks, filled with poetic messages about ‘pavement
cracks where sleeping shadows of moving bridges stole’ and such like.
For years, these have been a great cause of mystery not only to us, but
undoubtedly to many a curious, casual observer making their way to
Manchester’s alternative shopping Mecca.
Thankfully, this is one public art mystery that is much easier to solve.
Each piece, a little faded due to the countless heavy footsteps that
have trampled over them through the years yet still prominently
intriguing, combine to make a poem. It’s called ‘Flags’, and it’s the
work of Wigan born poet, Lemn Sissay.
Originally coming from Billinge, Lemn has enjoyed a successful career as
a poet. His first book, ‘Tender Fingers in a Clenched Fist’ was
published in 1998 and since then he’s gone on to put his name to four
other books, several radio documentaries and a string of public poetry
pieces, as well as appearing on Leftfield’s album ‘Leftism’ and having a
documentary of his life made by the BBC.
Yet despite all of his achievements, and the fact that ‘Flags’ is now
some fifteen/sixteen years old, it comes as little surprise to Lemn
Sissay that even now, people like us are calling him up to talk about
this single piece of work.
“The people who live in that area tell me that there’s never a day goes
by without somebody stood trying to read the poem, and it’s quite a nice
feeling,” he says.
“I think what people like about it is that in the middle of all this
modern architecture and busy shopping centres, public poetry creates a
secret noise. Everything around it is very in your face, but this sits
quietly, making a statement of its own.”
Yet ‘Flags’ is not the work of some rebel poet eager to make a name for
themselves and spread the message about poetry’s impact by any means
possible. This piece was specially commissioned by the Northern Quarter
Association of Manchester, and when Lemn was asked to create ‘a poem in
the floor’, he knew exactly what to write about.
“I thought about all the people who had walked those streets; the old
working class communities, the Irish and Italian communities and all the
people coming out of the old pubs from that area. I wanted to write
something that reflected how all these different footsteps had left
their impressions on this street.”
And so he did.
Taking this theme, Lemn created ‘Flags’, a unique collaboration of art
and poetry that provokes thought and curiosity to many who’ve come
across it.
Yet if one question still remains, it’s not the ‘who?’, ‘when?’ or
‘how?’, it’s the ‘why?’. Lemn tells us that he enjoys all the mediums in
which he presents his poetry; in print, on TV and radio and even with
live performance; but with several pieces of public poetry to his
credit, it becomes clear in speaking to him that this is a medium he is
quite fond of.
“I see my poetry as part of the journey of my life and I like the idea
that I’ve tattooed a part of my journey on the skin of the city,” he
says rather poetically.
“People read poetry all the time, even if they’re not always aware of
it. It’s around at all the most important moments of people’s lives; in
birthday cards, Christmas cards, Valentines, weddings, christenings and
so on.
“Yet people can sometimes feel inadequate about being around the concept
of poetry, but as public art it makes a statement that poetry isn’t
confined to books, it’s all around us all the time.
“Plus, when I moved from Wigan to Manchester and found myself in the big
city, it was a way to leave my mark. My name is still embedded in the
streets of Manchester to this day.”
That may be, but for how much longer? Despite being a commissioned
piece, it seems that little is being done to preserve ‘Flags’ and
protect from the onslaught of the elements and the scores of footsteps
which are slowly taking their toll on it.
“It’s sad that, over time, a few verses have disappeared,” says Lemn in
a more sombre tone. “But that’s the thing with public art, whether it
gets cared for or not all depends on budgets.”
Sadly, this is becoming true of most forms of public art.
Whilst no doubt much will be done to keep work that falls within the
traditional concepts of what art is supposed to be, unique works that
say more about the world around us than a painting of a field ever could
are likely to be left to fade away.
And whilst it would be stupid to suggest that random acts of vandalistic
graffiti should be saved, with rumours circulating that Tib Street is to
be redeveloped into a residential area, how long will it be before these
pavement cracks exist only in photographs and the memories of those
whose footprints left impressions in the flags?
Recommended Link:
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www.lemnsissay.com
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