Near the busstop where I often wait for the number 3 bus from campus to town, I noticed this banner hanging at eyelevel. More to the point, I noticed the character that had been added to the original message by punching holes in the fabric. It was the character 不 [bù] meaning no or not.
The horizontal strip of red fabric, and the yellow message printed on it, make up a format that is ubiquitious throughout China: that of government (either national, regional or local) slogans. Whoever had punched those holes, had made an adjustment to the banner that negated the message*. The bright sunlight cast sharp shadows, and in the case of the banner, it’s shadow projected very clearly only the message NO.
Whether intentional, or coincidental, it conveyed a very strong visual statement.
To see the whole banner, click HERE.
*(don’t)DO IT NOW, DO IT FOR YOURSELF, KEEP AWAY FROM SMALL GOODS BEING SOLD ON THE STREET
Tags: characters, GAFA, Guangzhou, signage, typography, University Town, visual language