絵画評　Taliah Lempert “Christian's Paramount Facing Left”

タクヤ

「僕はそう思わんけど、まぁ言いたいことは解るよ。ラグが装飾的にカットされてメッキされてるんが古い感じで、そう思ったんかな。」

トニー

「そうそう。それにブレーキレバーもスポークも無いし、走らんやん。」

タクヤ

「でもピストのメッセンジャーやったらブレーキ付いてへんこともあるやん。」

トニー

「あ、そうか。そんならスポークはどうなん？」

タクヤ

「ホイルが回ってたらスポーク見えへんときもあるやん。」

トニー

「えー誰も乗ってないのにホイールが回ってんのん？オバケやん。この自転車そんな風に見える？」

タクヤ

「どっちかってゆうたらその逆の感じやね。なんか暖かい感じがすんねん。背景の色のせいかも知らんけど。だからこれ放ってある自転車と違うと思うんよ。置き去りにされた自転車ってなんかもっと悲しいやん。」

トニー

「ちょっと、ちょっと。これ左っかわやで！」

タクヤ

「え、そんで？」

トニー

「たいがい自転車って左側に降りるやんか。」

タクヤ

「あっ、そっか。ちょうど自転車から降りて見てるとこかも。ええラグやねー。とかね。」

トニー

「自転車の水色がさ、後ろの蜜柑アイスみたいな色から浮き出してんね。」

タクヤ

「そやね、自転車と背景の色がなんとも言えず合うてるよな。タイヤとバーテープが背景と同じような色やからかも。」

トニー

「きっとな、自転車乗っててタイヤとかと同じ色の道に来たんちゃうかな。乗ってるときって大体タイヤとバーテープが見えてるやん。それが背景と同じ色やしカモフラージュされて見えんようになったからビックリしたんちゃうか。」

タクヤ

「ふんふん。」

トニー

「それで、自転車がフレームだけになって飛んでるみたいな気分になっったし、止まってタイヤとバーと付いてるか確かめたんとちゃうやろか？」

タクヤ

「うーん、背景は壁やん、地面までこの色と違うからタイヤが見えんようにはならんやろ。でも面白い話やね。これ乗ってる人はこの橙色が好きで、タイヤとか色で選んだはずやん。せやしこの壁の色も好きなはずやん。僕やったらメチャ好きな色の壁見つけたら、自転車もたせかけて見るかもな。チャリと壁の色が醸しだす、うーんハーモニー。みたいな。」

トニー

「ハーモニーって恥ずかしいな。」

タクヤ

「まぁええやん。調和っていうたらええかな。」

トニー

「まぁええわ。」

タクヤ

「これ乗ってる人ってやっぱりメッセンジャーやんね？」

トニー

「多分な。でもそれにしたらバーテープきれいすぎんで。フレームも古いわりに傷いっとらんし。あんまり乗らへんコレクターとかちゃうか？」

タクヤ

「そうかもね。でもな、リムがセミディープやん。あとラグのポリッシュした色と、リムとかステムとかのだるい銀色と合うとらんやん。なんかコレクターってそういう所気にするやんか。クラッシック車こんな乗り方すんのはメッセンジャーやろ、やっぱり。」

トニー

「そう言われたらそうやな。」

タクヤ

「どっちにしてもキレイに乗ってるよな、ブレーキ付けてへんのに、フレーム傷つけんように気をつけて、タイヤとかバーテープとか掃除するメッセンジャーってどんな奴やと思う？」

トニー

「そんなん知ってるわけないやん。ヘッドチューブの長さから考えたらあんまり背ぇ高ないやろけど。キチンとして強そうな人ちゃうか。」

タクヤ

「僕もキッチリした人やと思うけど、強いってなんなん？なんでそう思ったん？」

トニー

「いや、ヘッドチューブがさ何ていうか何やったっけ？あのヨロイきて長い槍とか持ってる…」

タクヤ

「騎士やろ。ほんまやラグの形が騎士って感じやね。赤い紋章もついとるし。騎士みたいに強いけど礼節もわきまえた人かもな。なんでかって言うとステムとかハンドルの形がなんかお辞儀しとるみたいやん。聖なる青い鎧をきた強い心を持ちながら、人々や世の中に対してはジェントルマンなんやろな。だってタイヤとかバーテープって自転車が人間とか世界とかに触れるとこやん。こんな礼儀正しい姿勢のハンドルバーでさ、タイヤも土っていうか大地の色やろ、スキッドマークとか道路につけません！ってエライよな。」

トニー

「…頭、大丈夫か？」

(以下、英訳）

“ What do you think of this?”
“ I like it. Quiet feeling. As if the bike has been sitting there for long time.”

“ What happened to the owner?”
“ I don’t know. Maybe the bike doesn’t have an owner. The owner left this bike long time ago.”

“ I don’t agree but I see what you mean. The lugwork of the frame is classic. They are cut in decorative shapes and plated. Is that what in you mind?”
“ Yeah, and the bike has no brake levers nor spokes, it can’t be ridden.”

“ Well messengers ride pista and they don’t use brakes.”
“ True, it is owned by a messenger. How about spokes?”

“ Well If the wheel is rotating fast you can’t see the spokes and a rim and a tire looks still.”
“ Wheel rotates without a rider? That is a ghost bike then. But, do you feel something spooky about this bike?”

“ No, opposite of that. I feel warm. Maybe the color of the background makes me feel that way. That is why I don’t think the bike is left there for long time. Every time I see a bike left somewhere for long time I feel sad. I don’t see that element in this bike.”
“ Look. This is the left side of the bike!”

“ So?”
“ You get off your bike to the left side. Most of people do so.”

“ Right. Maybe the owner has just gotten off and looking the bike. Probably appreciating the beauty of the lugwork.”
“ And the color of the frame. Light blue stands out from the orangeish beige wall.”

“ Right. The bike and the color of the background makes a nice accordance. I think because the tire and the bar tape has similar color.”
“ Maybe he was riding the bike and ride into the street with a wall that has same color with his tire and bar tapes. Tire and bar tapes is what you see most while riding a bike. He probably thought he lost them because they much the color of the wall. Just like a camouflage of a chameleon.”

“ Go on.”
“ So he felt that he is fling with just a frame. So he parked and got off to see if he still has the tires and a bar.”

“ Well I think he or she can see the tire because the back ground of the tire must be a road not the wall. But still I like your idea. I like to feel fling with just a frame too. I can imagine the owner had chosen this color for the tire and the tape because he like that color. Which means he may like the color of the wall also. I will love to park my bike on the wall that has color I like. And looking at the harmony for while.”
“ Me too. Just don’t say “harmony”, I don’t like that word”.

“ Alright, say blend? Much? Symmetry, Consistency ,“
“ Something like that.”

“Let’s talk about the owner. We agree that the owner is a messenger. Right?”
“ I guess so, Wait the bar tape looks too clean for a messenger, also no scratch on the frame. The owner is a bike collector. You know, some love old bikes and keeps the bike but never rides.”

“Maybe. But, look at the rim. It is semi deep, it is rather modern. Also the dull finish of the rim and the stem doesn’t much the shiny polished lugs. If the bike is classic and owner converts it for riding, the owner must be a messenger.”
“ Now I see that.”

“ OK. Anyway the owner takes care of this bike. Being careful not to scratch the frame and cleans tire and tapes. Still rides it with no brake. Which kind of messenger is he or she? That is what I wonder.”
“ Well…I don’t know. I think he is not too tall because the head tube is not that long, the frame must be not too big. He is crisp and tidy. And strong.”

“ I too think the owner is a person of abstemious habit. But how do you know he is strong. What do you see to makes you say that.”
“ See the head tube. It is like a …how do you call them? Spanish Samurai? The ancient soldier who wear iron armor and having spear.”

“ Knights. Or cavaliers. Right, the shape of lug reminds me of a knight. I even see the flashy red emblem. The owner is strong like a knight yet humble, if I can add. The shape of the stem and the handle bar is bit like a bowing. Maybe he is strong inside like this blue steal frame with a noble armor, but very gentle and chivalrous to the people, to the world. Because bar and tire are where the bike touches a person or ground. You see the humble gesture of the handle bar and tires with a color of soil. This tire would left no skid mark on the street.”
“ You are going too far.”