Billboards Quote by Ivan Chtcheglov
“We are bored in the city, there is no longer any Temple of the Sun. Between the legs of the women walking by, the dadaists imagined a monkey wrench and the surrealists a crystal cup. That's lost. We know how to read every promise in faces-the latest stage of morphology. The poetry of the billboards lasted twenty years. We are bored in the city, we really have to strain to still discover mysteries on the sidewalk billboards, the latest state of humor and poetry.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Future of Cities, Ivan Chtcheglov, 1965
Urban monotony erodes creativity; art and humor become rare, hidden in everyday signs.
In simple terms: City life feels dull; art is scarce.
Key Takeaway
Seek unexpected art in daily surroundings.
Themes
urban boredom
creativity loss
modern art
street culture
Mood
reflective
melancholic
Type
observational
philosophical
When to use this quote
- walking tours
- street art projects
- public billboard installations
- community workshops
Key Concepts
surrealism
dadaism
urban morphology
visual poetry
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you uncover hidden poetry in your environment?
- What role does humor play in urban life?
A Different Perspective
Not all city dwellers notice subtle artistic cues.
![“Between love and the automatic garbage chute, young people everywhere have made their choice and prefer the garbage chute. [Entre l'amour et le vide-ordure automatique la jeunesse de tous les pays a fait son choix et préfère le vide-ordure.]” quote by Ivan Chtcheglov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/ecc/ivan-chtcheglov-36357_1953_between-love-and-the-automatic-garbage-c_961913.jpg)
