A Useful Article

One indefinable, non-distinct and wholly unremarkable day I chose to accept a promotional pamphlet from an attractive blonde who was distributing said marketing outside an East London tube station. When I glanced down to delve deeply into her offers I noticed that I’d been given a blank sheet of paper in addition to the advertising and in no way did it seem related. Had the pamphlet been about a local breast augmentation clinic I would have half expected a message on the accompanying sheet exclaiming, “draw us your ideal tits here!” However, it was completely unmarked and gave no clue as to its purpose so I assumed it had somehow entered the stack of pamphlets during their production or organisation.

Although apparently useless the paper found its way into one of my works and proved itself useful.

This got me thinking about other instances of ‘uselessness’ that I had come across, notably, an abandoned outbuilding at the edge of a farmer’s field near my house. I decided to visit with my camera and here are the results:


















If you experience ‘uselessness’ you’re not thinking deeply enough. Everything and everyone has a purpose. If you’re a blank sheet of paper handed to someone who didn’t ask for it you might be used creatively. If you’re now a disused building you can still serve the odd passer-by with photogenic subject matter. If you were the provider of solace to a friend that you no longer know, surely your reassurance is still with them in memories.

I believe the problem with being human is that we don’t have a purpose, so we need to invent one. Help others feel needed.

Posted by: Stu