“You can always try”

In the long run you do not see it anymore but the world is full of tutorials on how to behave. Especially in The Netherlands. Admonitions, rules of conduct are also found in former Soviet states like Kyrgyzstan. ‘Do not let your children play with matches’ is to be read in large letters on an apartment building. A lot of state creativity. Sometimes it is not clear where the citizen initiative starts or the state interference stops. Like Opzoomeren in Rotterdam that started as a initiative of the people who live in the Opzoomer street. Now the official plaque in 1800 streets with texts like ‘We greet our neighbours’ and ’We organize two parties a year’, seem silly. 
In Lagos, Rotterdam and Bishkek citizens are trying to educate their fellow men. An extra English lesson can be used in Lagos. In Bishkek you wonder who is going to collect the penalty. And how official is the police logo on this poster in Rotterdam?

What a waste...

Rotterdam -  There are many signs in the city that are a bit peculiar, like the one on this bin. I would describe the sign as a ‘do not walk here’ sign…
Erika Blikman – Rotterdam Lab

Walk the Dog

Rotterdam -  Rule one: no obligation to clear out the shit Rule two: Keep the dogs on the string. The little logo on the left around the dogshit says 'legally deposited'…
Lino Hellings – Rotterdam Lab

Visible / non-visible

Rotterdam -  This says: ‘All our articles are visibly and non-visibly marked for theft.’ But all you see is a empty shops without any articles at all.…
Martijn Nieuwenhuis – Rotterdam Lab

No hanging around

Rotterdam -  No hanging aroundAt the storeThe PoliceEvery where in the city there are signs telling you what you should (but mostly shouldn’t) do. Some of them are placed by the local…
Maurice Bogaert – Rotterdam Lab

A kind of social advertisement

Bishkek -  Personal attempt to educate people. The Russian text says ‘Do not dump rubbish here – fine 1000 soms!’ But look under the roof :-)…
Elena Chigibaeva – Bishkek Lab

Sign-obsessed-society

Rotterdam -  This sign, on the front door of a school, says ‘We're working on a school without accidents'. Of course you are. Another example of our say-nothing-sign-obsessed-society. …
Martijn Nieuwenhuis – Rotterdam Lab

Match is not a toy for children

Bishkek -  In the 1960s the Soviet government put slogans all over city. This one says do not let your children play with matches.…
Anastasia Slastnikova – Bishkek Lab

PCC street

Sao Paulo -  Do not take pictures here, Sergio the Catadore warned me. The PCC (Primeiro Comando da Capital) began as a prisoners union to defend inmate rights. But now it is a…
Lino Hellings – Sao Paulo Lab

Choreography

Rotterdam -  Rules and regulations at the entrance of the Koopgoot (Shopping Gutter). The designer has observed the differences in choreography between a skateboarder and a roller skater very well. Chapeau! …
Robin van 't Haar – Rotterdam Lab

Opzoomeren

Rotterdam -  Good premenitions: 1 We great each other as good neighbors. 2 We welcome new neighbors 3 We organize activities to meet 4 We keep our courtyard, clean, intact and…
Erika Blikman – Rotterdam Lab

Chewing gum

Rotterdam -  ‘Sick and tired of chewing gum in the city. Rotterdam MUST be clean, intact and safe! WHY? BECAUSE!’ says the text on the rubbish bin. The little white dots…
Lino Hellings – Rotterdam Lab