Thinking about Love, Milan came to mind and how closely it is tied to time. Finding a bit of time in the city is love for ourselves.
Leaving Milan-Cortina aside, let’s imagine an ordinary day. When I walk around Milan, I am always aware of the smells around me: espresso, garlic, oregano, new magazines, city tires, and so much coffee in the subway; shoe shops, car exhaust, soy sauce, and the smell of every fruit soaking into the rough wood of the crates at the greengrocers and the paper wrapped around them.
The city is designed to function, not to relax. In the city, even trees have to work hard, because the number of people they have to produce oxygen for is incredible. In Milan everything happens in a rush, and because of the way life works, people end up being alone even in the crowd of the subway and elevators. Usually, when people take the subway, they are very tired, and so they cannot sing or dance, but I believe that if they could, they would find it a truly pleasant experience.
The boys who paint graffiti on train cars at night have learned very well how to recycle the city’s space.
My ideal city should be similar to the one Andy Warhol dreamed of: a single long main street with no side streets or parallel roads to block traffic. Just one long street with a laundromat, a perfumery, a bookstore, and, among trees and other things, a cinema on the corner (I like the idea of people lining up to get in).
Nowadays, the atmosphere I prefer is that of airports: the best perfumeries and the greatest optimism are there. When I am above cities, I look out and see the clouds and think that they are really up there. It is wonderful.
Inside airports, you meet people. You see, getting to know another person is too difficult because every new person requires more time and more space. You can cry in company or laugh alone. The choice is yours, just like deciding what to do and how to spend your time. Since people are living longer and longer, we must learn to remain children for longer. I try to think about what time lived in the city is, and all I can think is: time is, time was.
Well, listen, let’s take it easy too, tomorrow—let’s not wake up at six thirty anymore.
With Love, G.
COSÌ POTRAI RESTARE SEMPRE AGGIORNATO SULLE NOVITÀ ED ESSERE TRA I PRIMI A SCOPRIRE VERAMENTE STEP ABOARD
