Buzz about Flickr
Go Small recently came across the work of an artist who uses both traditional and online media to weave narratives using an endangered species as the main character, in this case, the humble bumblebee. The artist, aptly called “Bumblebee,” uses abandoned newspaper stands and telephone booths in the real world to represent pages of a story called “The Story of How Things Came to Bee.”
The narrative is captured in pictures and words on Bumblebee’s Flickr site and the pictures contain notes (if you scroll over the bees). These notes can’t be seen on the street, however, there is a map that shows the locations of the newspaper stands so the online viewer can step outside (providing they live in the city!) and travel to each spot to see these scenes for herself.
Looking at an almost obsolete industry from the perspective of an endangered species gives the viewer a deepened sense of vulnerability, the passing of time, the ephemeral nature of technology, and of the preciousness of life.
A wonderful way to work with both traditional and online media to create a complete and compelling storybook of ideas and impressions.
The ‘newspaper stand’ is soon becoming a forgotten way to communicate with the public. With more online news subscriptions being made, newspaper companies are leaving these structures abandoned. -Bumblebee
