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Phil Douglis | all galleries >> Galleries >> Gallery Thirty: When walls speak and we listen > Savings Bank, Zagreb, Croatia, 2005
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03-SEP-2005

Savings Bank, Zagreb, Croatia, 2005

The paint on this building, one of the first banking institutions in Croatia’s capital city, is badly in need of repair. The peeling walls speak of neglect, probably due to lack of funding, yet two elements express ideas that contradict the decay. The ornate 19th century sculpture in the corner niche conveys a sense of faded grandeur – at one time, the bank must have been prosperous, and the sculpture was meant to prove it. The bright red flowers on the balcony tell us that even today, somebody cares enough about the image of the institution to grace its exterior with beauty.

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Phil Douglis03-Oct-2005 17:01
Another example, Kal, of how powerful context can be in shaping the meaning of images. This image becomes truly ironic when looks at its roots.
Kal Khogali03-Oct-2005 11:55
Your context that this is a bank, transorms this image. This is proof that sometimes context is key. The irony of the image can not escape anyone, once they understand it's route. Your message is loud and clear.
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