What is Preserve?
Preserve an attempt to produce a
permanent photographic record of hand painted building signage. These
old signs are being erased from our cities either being worn away by
weather over time, covered as buildings have been repainted,
disappearing as buildings are demolished or replaced with modern signage
equivalents. The collection is mostly in New Zealand signage but there
are also signs posted from other countries as people contribute to the
collection.
When did you start the
site and what motivated you to start it?
Even as a kid I really old buildings, there
seems to be charm about them that is not captured in todays modern
structures. I can still remember in Wellington, where I grew up, seeing
the large warehouses with advertising painted down the sides for various
products from times past. These old buildings certainly then had a
charm about them and as time has moved on even more so. I have a real
love for old type and its many forms it comes in but there is something
special when you see a building with a really well painted large weather
worn sign, I guess its about the scale, size and hand crafted nature
that attracts me.
I started photographing signs on buildings about 4
years ago, the first sign I took a photo of was in Sydney while I was
there for work. It was just a simple sign thats says 'Beware of
Traffic', I only saw it as it was at eye level and when I did see it I
saw more than just a warning but a hand crafted creation, a work of art
in itself. After taking that shot I began to build up a library of shots
mostly from New Zealand. Initially I was keen to put them into a book
of some kind but a website was the easier route to take and just over a
year ago Preserve was launched.
Off George St, Sydney, Australia (Photo: Dan Davis) What do you enjoy most about doing the site?
I guess there are two aspects
which are linked:
1. I really like the idea that Preserve is somehow
capturing a fast disappearing craft. There are not too many signage guys
out there that can hand paint a good sign now days although there are
still a few around that can do an 'old school' sign. Most signs are now
plastic computer generated type that have lost that old world aesthetic
charm they once had and
2. In some small way Preserve is archiving some
of New Zealand's signage heritage as it disappears before our eyes.
Where do take most of your photos/how do you
find the material you shoot?
Most material I have shot has been in Christchurch
as it has plenty to shoot and also its where I live. Having said that it
is getting harder to find as most of the obvious signs have been
photographed and you really have to look to find the not so obvious
ones. Usually to find the good ones you have to get out on the streets
and walk around not looking straight a head but usually looking up as
thats where most on them are. To find them I also normally head for the
older parts of town that are a little run down where the owners haven't
done any upkeep on the buildings. Over the years to get the shots I have
had to hang out windows 3 stories up, manage to rip my pants climbing
over barb wire fences and chased by guard dogs once over. All of the New
Zealand shots I have taken are in large digital format and shortly I
will releasing a limited edition range of posters on the site.
