Tuesday 19 July 2011

The National Archives

It is dangerous to try to turn a place that is meant to bring History and past documents into a modern looking "library".
Where is the real wood brought from India in early centuries? Where is the dark smell of books and a weak and beautiful lamp? Where is the blue, red, green velvet that makes you feel close to the untouchable? Culture and knowledge brings you there, but in this place you don't feel it...
Register on the computer! Queues to get a sophisticated ID card. No pens, just pencils! Carry everything in a transparent plastic bag! Uh! Terrorism!
Everything TECH-NO-LOGIC! Printer 1, Printer 2, Printer 3, "Enquiries", computers everywhere! Open spaces... One sculpture in the corner. Men with weird beards and women with untidy hair!
"Fire Exit"! I'm on fire, should I run that way?