Where Memory is Lost (in Basel)

Where Memory is Lost – Alejandro Vidal 

 

Basel Art.

Art.  Means different things to different people.  Some people live in palatial houses and  are happy to buy pretty pictures at Ikea to hang on their walls.  Others  prefer to buy fabulous art and live in a small apartment.  I am somewhere in the middle.  I have  laughed along with the audience to Jasmin Reza’s very clever theatrical piece entitled Art  – where three men fall out over one man’s purchase of a completely white piece of canvas for a ludicrous price – and I painted over the one picture I owned from Ikea.

This year we went to the Basel Art Fair with our German friend and guide, Rolf and I fell in love with the work of  Spanish Photographer Alejandro Vidal.   

Rolf is driving us to Basel.  The conversation bounces around as always with Rolf from spirituality to art to cars. 

“Did you know Rolf that the Reverend Ed Baker recently declared on TV that being Gay was a gift from God?”

“Ah, ha ha.  Some believe that God created Man, Woman and Gays BUT the Gays were so perfect, they caused too  much trouble. ……….It is not easy.  I am a man but at times I feel schizophrenic, I have this fucking female side that is so strong you know.”

Rolf turns on the GPS to find the hotel as we approach Basel (male side).  Mr. Jules intervenes here and their male egos collide as they squabble over how to programme the (effing) navigator.  

Stuck up French navigator voice, “Tournez à droite à 200 metres.”

“That’s not right, it is over there, I’m sure.” Rolf indicates to the left, his male side affronted. 

“A droite.”

“No.” (Nein).

“Faites demi tour”.

The car becomes uncomfortably silent.

“Faites demi tour.”   It may have been my impression but I’m sure that second “demi tour” had angry undertones.

We keep going, through numerous sets of traffic lights unable to turn left, right or around.  Suddenly we reach the river and can go no further.

“Vot IS this?”  He snaps off the GPS angrily.

We eventually find the hotel using our combined (female) sense of direction.

 

(PS talk to me?).