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Phil Douglis | all galleries >> Galleries >> Gallery Thirty: When walls speak and we listen > Main Gate, Dubrovnik, Croatia, 2005
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12-SEP-2005

Main Gate, Dubrovnik, Croatia, 2005

The fortified walls of Dubrovnik have protected the city for seven centuries, and while today they are charming relics of the past, their presence gives the old town its character and helps make it one of the most fascinating cities on the Adriatic. I used a lapse of human interaction to tell the story of the walls here. The guard never even looks back as a little boy skips past him and invades the town. The age and height and strength of these ancient walls – interlocking as if in a maze -- seem to be mere child’s play here, as well they should be. The guard symbolizes another time, the child represents today.

Canon PowerShot G6
1/320s f/4.0 at 12.7mm full exif

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Phil Douglis07-Oct-2005 23:49
Once again, Tim and Celia bring their wisdom to an image back to back. I find it fascinating that this image conveys such a broad of range of ideas, from a child's freedom to skip through the streets to the nature of gates as passages of time and age and direction. Both of you extend the expression of this image considerably for me. Thank you.
Tim May05-Oct-2005 17:23
Ah, but walls need gates - A wall protects, but that protection is useless if you can't get in or out. Your gallery needed a gate - this image is wonderful because your gate allows so many passages - the passage of time (ancient wall - modern day) - the passage of age (work as an adult guard and play of a child) the passage of different directions - the passage of formal and informal. What a powerful metaphor.
Cecilia Lim04-Oct-2005 21:46
I like how you’ve chosen to show two people of different ages, wearing clothing from different eras looking in opposite directions to express the changes that these walls have survived. These massive fortified walls have stood the test of time and seemed to have accomplished its purpose - to protect its citizens and its future. If these walls had never succeeded in its role, perhaps that little boy would never have been there today, happily skipping along without a worry...
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