Leith Festival 2007
Originally uploaded by upnorthkid
The rather splendid Jonathan Mills, artistic Director of the Edinburgh International Festival, used his speech to the RCA as an opportunity to quote from the equally splendid Merleau Ponty.
"I am always inspired by a wonderful quotation from the French philosopher, Maurice Merleu-Ponty, who said, "just as places are sensed, senses are placed". He seems to describe perfectly the reciprocal relationship between the setting and the substance that exists at the core of a true festival experience; the buzz that emanates from having so many things happening at once; what a distinguished Australian colleague described as that "delicious indecision" of knowing one is surrounded by many, many exciting events and realising that there is no possibility of experiencing them all. The festival is a sensual, visceral assault."
Leith provides a sensual, visceral assault most days of the week. Especially when the wind's blowing from the sewage works on Seafield Road. But when the festival comes along it still manages to "weave a spell that stands in sharp contrast to the sameness of everyday life".
It's only just kicked off and already we've got a Fabulous Little Vegas to get our lunch in. Back at the day job we get to be inspired by other people's filmmaking efforts. Ballads of the Book I missed. (Doh). And there's a definite sense of delicious indecision from the rest of the programme.
Let's hope JM is in town.
