FLINDERS LANE 1972-2013
s This is a photographic journey through spaces then and now and those in between.
Written by Sheng Yi Lee in May 2013 when autumn arrived a little later than usual and winter came early.
Let me tell you about my walk down Flinders Lane one cloudy Sunday afternoon.
Buildings wear nametags and this red one wore white.
21
William is inside with his surgical playthings.
Lucas no longer watches over the unwell.
Like his forefathers he retells the story of new art.
I saw red chairs I heard glass on glass coming from within.
49
Rags sold like every other in this line.
Van then van now what next?
One seed every fifteen steps.
A growing building growls at everyone.
84
Matt, Phill, Wendy and Warren met Chester at the corner of a haberdashery store.
Umbrellas and tables where cars should be.
Chester hides behind grey legs metal on metal hurt his ears.
Nothing to see only getting from A to B.
109
Blood in between the finest wool tailcoats red is the new black.
Keep clear still for a different fluid.
A tall one came up and the sun never bled through those windows anymore.
Yet more growling but of an old soul and impatient feet.
135
Go on and look at the neon look at Bruck’s fabrics.
They always want to fix things.
More room for me and less for you.
They said I couldn’t stand there because what goes up could come back down.
141
Levy and his brothers were the oldest in line bringing in the gold .
They came round the wrong way for the right reason.
I smile the same yet now I hold one man’s art not every man’s money.
Many voices many faces many eyes.
226
Take me on a magic carpet ride no one is allowed to stand.
One is replaced with another.
Now they scream different names what do you hear?
Shifty eyes in a corner he did not smoke grass he said and left those shifty eyes to keep looking.
227
Straightforward retail therapy.
Gentle erosion of the transient.
More are watching the night glows brighter.
If this building had a story he kept a beard all his life one day he shaved.
238
Daisies from Lindsay for Giovanni’s restaurant.
Rob a bank of its name.
No time to stop and smell the flowers there are none.
Outside the box they scream and shout ignorant frame.
278
Chicago was a miller then a merchant then a bookbinder.
Time changes on the other side of the wall.
Cars they grow too taller and stronger now there are too many.
A little girl was running she dropped her phone it slid under a car.
308
They left Leicester when their wallets left them.
Big brother takes his leave.
White lines white lies white light.
My eyes grew colder and greyer walls meant business.
313
This was North once a big family of rivals and friends.
Gregory lost his way on the way to the corner store.
Brighter slower upfront.
It was colder here the wind whispered loudly in our ears.
331
Backstage lost for words feet off the floor.
Nametags come and go.
The dark mask took three steps right and backed away.
s All photos on the left spread of each leaflet (c) K.J. Halla 1972 These photos were taken from a series of 35mm negatives by K.J. Halla, presented as a gift to the State Library of Victoria in 1974. All photos on the right spread of each leaflet (c) Sheng Yi Lee 2013
Printed in Melbourne, May 2013.