"x" marks the spot / 2010
"x" marks the spot” seeks to leave the mark of the childhood playground (physically gone) on the memory map (of memories almost gone). In that spot, No.12-14 Teodosie Rudeanu Street, which is now an urban void, was the only factory in Romania that produced watermeters - before 1989. Opened back in 1977, the mechanically-profiled factory named “Precizia” (eng. precision, accuracy) used to fabricate casted parts from non-ferrous materials, equipment for industrial washhouses, machines meant for processing wood, light industry equipment and other devices.
It managed to survive for a few years in the 90s, finally freezing in the financial Balkanic cold.
This was the favorite playground of the kids that grew up near the Town Hall of Bucharest’s 1st Sector (right next to the factory). We used to steal carbide from “Precizia” in order to make bombs. We used to perforate coffee cans (Amigo coffee cans), after which we put the carbide in with a burning match. One of the favourite activities of the ‘90s kids was crafting weapons. We made weapons and fighting devices, inspired from ninja movies and martial arts movies (such as “Mortal Kombat”, “Street fighter”, Bruce Lee movies, and so on). Cross bows were crafted from branches and metal parts, we stole PVC pipes in order to make dart guns, so that we can hunt pigeons. Instead of darts we used screws of paper with a needle at the tip – and we would sometimes harm each other with these outstanding weapons. Also, we used to play hide and seek back there. The building was fully demolished in 2008. The “X” is the epilogue.
working method: making an "X" using two toilet paper rolls (each of 15 meters)
Daniel Djamo - before "x" marked a spot / 2010