There are sculptural qualities in these hanging notices that I am drawn to. I think it is the layers upon layers that have manifested through a recurring action of individuals putting up notices, who most probably disregard the other notices and think only of theirs being seen. In this process of hanging up a notice, individuals must not for one second consider the aesthetic quality that I am drawn to of this amassment- the one that creates a portrait of a city. Each notice represents a different individual, or the same individual returning - who continues to require public space to advertise.  And each individual seemingly has their own story to tell, as to what they have to offer and why they feel the need to offer it. Naturally, given that this is Greece, it is to earn extra cash during this time of crisis. It is astounding how any one therefore, can walk past all those notices and not stop, stare and be taken aback by these pleas; at these individuals reaching out.

From the notices I have been examining more closely, namely through translating them, it has come to my attention that many of the them are for language-learning or for mathematics/economic tuition. Is this just a co-incidence in light of the fact that most people here would need such training during this period of unemployment and economic recession? Therefore, I think think these notices are not only individuals advertising the skills they have to offer for a short economic boost. I think these notices are also individuals who have recognized a market and a demand for people wanting to know learn Greek and other employable and relevant skills (namely that of finance and business) thus offer them. Lest we forgot, much of my notice 'foraging' has taken place in and around Kipseli - an area of Athens renowned for its immigrant community who seek employment and the language of Greek.

I have also noticed that these notices are an effective form of advertising. Some notices have identical copies underneath them from where all the tabs were taken thus top-ups were needed. Many other notices are now completely stripped of tabs and exist as an off-sqaure piece of paper.

But back to the form of the notices hanging on the walls. Some curl. And think this is because of the heat here in Athens - it dries everything out and makes and makes thing pucker. And because these notices are hung outdoors, the adhesives used are different to those encountered in Edinburgh. Here selotape and glue-paste are used, not blue-tac and pins. The selotape is a particularly aggressive form of adhesive. I have seen notices on some posts and walls where the tape could not be removed when the notice was. Left on public property are straggly reams of tape, underneath are remaining parts of old notices. The painted surfaces upon which these notices are hung have also been affected by the heat - the paint is chipped and worn, defaced by graffiti. These surfaces are created slowly over time through weathering and vandalism. Left, is this curious surface that I feel could never be replicated, although it says so much and so much that I would like to communicate by isolating with in clear space - say, an exhibition space.

 

I've also started to notice different tactics people have used when hanging up their notices, to make sure that theirs gets notice over others:

placing multiple copies of the same notice on top of each other so that there are twice/three times as many tabs to take. Again, the aesthetic of this placement really draws me in. I imagine the individual standing there selotaping notice after notice on top of one another. I also think of all the individuals who will come to this spot and take a tab with the intention of calling the number on it. There must have been about 21 tabs for this one notice. The stories of what these tabs will lead to, I find exciting - knowing that more and more people are sharing and learning skills.

 Whether this is intentional or not, I'm not sure, but notices have been placed in spaces were people will wait, perhaps in the hope that they'll be taken as one waits and one's mind wonders... Here, the bus stop:

This person created A3 notices, but bigger than the typical A4 or A5 size. Perhaps in doing this they hoped more attention would be grabbed.