I’m very happy with where I live, in San Francisco’s Richmond District. I’ve lived here for 20 years as of this coming summer, excepting four years spent in New Orleans (1999-2003). But once in a while an interesting home goes on the market, and it’s fun to take a look, perhaps (though not really) to move, more likely to dream, in any case to gain an unfamiliar vantage on this tremendous city. This view is from the top floor of an apartment building that faces Japantown. More immediately, however, it looks down directly on the Chinese consulate. If you look out you see the city to the north. If you look down you see an array of communication apparatuses. The urban high rise is a focal point of discussions about population density and privacy. But it’s another thing entirety to view, and be in view of, a site synonymous with surveillance. The view draws the narrative into the building. Who within the apartment complex might, themselves, be tasked with observational duties? And who observes them? Who, in other words, listens to the listeners?
An ongoing series cross-posted from instagram.com/dsqt.