My Sidewalk Psychiatry project has gained some more attention recently, thanks to Boingboing and some great personal sites. Emotional prodding in public space also reminds me of this fresh project from the ’90s. Graphic designer Stefan Sagmeister often references it as one of the few art/design projects that has “touched his heart.” Mimicking the standard signs in New York City’s subway cars, the artist True replaced them with some humorous and touching life instructions. The original warnings were subtly changed to “Riding with despair prohibited, Keep hopes up,” “Do not hold grudges,” and “Life Instructions: Have fun, Do not hurt people, Do not accept defeat, Strive to be happy.” Check out his site here!
I’ve never ridden the subway with despair, but I do enjoy a commute with some romantic melancholy. Few things are more poignant than listening to moody music in crowded places. Using a cool and simple tool called Muxtape.com, I created a mellow mp3 mixtape I like to call Ten Songs That Will Turn Any Old Subway Ride Into the Most Poignant Life-in-the-City Scene From a Heartbreaking Movie. Listen and sigh. Track list below.
1. Nico - These Days
2. Air - Mike Mills
3. Serge Gainsbourg and Jane Birkin - Je T’aime Moi Non Plus
4. Mellow - Airplane
5. David Bowie - Space Oddity
6. Ratatat - Cherry
7. The Zombies - Beechwood Park
8. The Rolling Stones - She Smiled Sweetly
9. Sonic Youth - Superstar
10. Brian Eno - The Big Ship
Artwork above is by True and was scanned from Sagmeister’s great book Made You Look.
April 24th, 2008 at 4:11 pm
[...] because most of her site is charming. A few weeks ago she put up a song list that she calls “Ten Songs That Will Turn Any Old Subway Ride Into the Most Poignant Life-in-the-City Scene From a He….” Here it [...]