PPAC: Whimsical public art

• Manja Maksimovič

What is art? Is it everything that pleases the eye in a new and unexpected way? Here are some pleasing scenes from my city of origin, since this is where I’m off to on Saturday.

P

u

b

l

i

c

.

a

r

t

Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia, is far from big. It covers 275 km2 (106 sq mi) and it is home to fewer than 300.000 people. This is where I was born and where I lived until I was 43 and moved to Tuscany which is bigger than the whole of Slovenia.

My district is called Bežigrad (which roughly translates as Runaway City) and it’s in the north of the city. This is where the majority of photos were taken, scenes that I encountered on my dog walks near home during my last few summers visits. Each new photo is farther from home, until we reach the city centre at the end of the gallery.

Photos show a variety of objects, architecture, whimsy and art that I found appealing, and so I clicked.

It will feel good to return to the country which yesterday rejected the new water management law in the Referendum for drinkable water. Overwhelmingly. This is major.

And hurrah to Italy for winning yesterday’s soccer drama. It wasn’t easy, with all those Englishmen around. I love this country in which nobody gets drunk but still all cry like a baby, where girls scream as at a concert and guys shout but nobody fires guns or shoot fireworks over a win like this (at least here in rural Tuscany).

And now welcome to Ljubljana, which will welcome me too very soon.

  • Two streets from us is Kindergarten Pingvin with this fence. I love it and I bet kids do too.
  • I could pass it without noticing him. I’m glad I did. Our nearest gas station.
  • I was perplexed when I spotted these two on that wood near our little supermarket which I used to pass on the way from school.
  • Here they are. Are they here for the taking? They were gone by the next day.
  • Here it is, six minutes from home: my primary school, named after YA writer France Bevk. I don’t remember it as colourful and artsy.
  • In the same street as the school. Kids pass this sign daily. They will learn.
  • I posted this one already but I love it. It’s just someone’s gate but I call it art.
  • After the rain it was splash for real.
  • I hate it when I can’t figure it out. Who are these guys? Or the same guy four times? Some local hero?
  • I just love this scene. The monument is rather new, I believe.
  • A catering service has these cut trees as decoration. Hmmm.
  • I like it how nature plays along.
  • Okay, street. Let’s do this.
  • Main railway station separates Bežigrad from Centre. I liked this view.
  • One more. I should find out where these trains sleep.
  • This would be half as good if it weren’t written on the Museum of Contemporary Art Metelkova.
  • St. Peter’s Parish Church has art on the outside too.
  • The window of all good in Trubarjeva St.
  • Someone just needs to open it.

For Photographing Public Art Challenge (PPAC) hosted by Cee at Cee’s Photo Challenges

This day in my blogging history

35 thoughts on “PPAC: Whimsical public art”

  1. I love the fence at your old primary school. I thought of colored pencils straight-away.

    The image with the cars, trains and modern buildings all stacked up is a cool image.

    The building with the window full of flower boxes is cool too. I love the warm colors, and textures of the building with the cheery flowerboxes adding more color.

    I’m so excited for your reunion this week!

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    1. Thank you, Deborah. Good morning! The fence is not of my primary school, that one comes a bit later, but of a preschool nearby which I don’t think was built yet when I was the right age for it. And they are indeed drawing pencils, have a look at the top! All pointy and ready to draw! 🙂

      Liked by 2 people

      Reply

    1. You won’t believe this, Sarah, but just earlier I learned on Facebook that a friend of mine, who worked at this kindergarten at the time, imported this fence idea from Italy! And it was her and her colleagues who painted it! Thanks, I love it too. They did great.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

    1. Thank you most kindly, Cee! I was amazed to learn just now on FB that the idea to build this fence came via my friend who saw a similar fence in Italy and transported it to this kindergarten where she worked at the time! It was her and her colleagues who painted it!!

      Like

      Reply

    1. Wow! Really, SMSW? But he is one of my favourite people! If they wished to make it to be him, they should try harder. I’ve seen so many of his photos over the years and it doesn’t speak to me as him. Thanks, you may be right though!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  14. Wonderful post! Amazing what an eye can see when we slow down enough to look. Love the fence and the little boy looking at the dog looking at the boy most of all. 😊❤️

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  15. Manja, there were so many interesting pieces of art. I loved the colored pencil fence, too because of the color, but some of the signs were just funny. That’s cool to. 🙂 Thanks for joining us this week.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

Happy to learn the first thing on your mind.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.