ARCHITECTURAL CAVITIES 0.7%

It’s been over a year since I last drew from a boat, but circumstances demanded it once again. Stories of the demolition of the old tram bridge, which had been publicly depicted as an eyesore, became more frequent and louder. In short, the Old Tram Bridge became a malignant structure that needed to be removed as soon as possible for the common good. The brains responsible for the city’s care even came up with an ingenious solution: the best thing for the bridge would be to relocate it to the Ušće Park, where it would be an attraction guaranteed to draw countless tourists to Belgrade. To ensure that the bridge, once placed there along with those who would install it, would truly be a sight to behold, no one in their right mind could argue otherwise, unless they were a complete idiot or a hidden enemy of the state. The members of the legally proclaimed trust dedicated to the removal of the bridge were so determined in their intent that they completely stopped caring about it. As a result, regular maintenance ceased, leaving it without any prospects. No one could just stand idly by, even if it was just a steel structure, as something atypical began to sprout nearby, spreading like a cavity, devouring everything in its path. Its luck lay in it taking one step onto the other bank of the Sava, otherwise it and the street below, which found itself in the wrong place that night, would have ended up in the police blotters. The bridge, made of old iron and slightly deaf, doesn’t mind the tram rumble passing over its back every day. It’s a bit noisy, but it too must vent, especially now that it can no longer see old neighbors and is faced with Kulčina, the proud herald of the predominantly new, lean times, thrust in its face like a middle finger. Uncultured but true, and also unprofessional but acknowledged and approved, especially from this closer, old-town side. Day by day, whether someone likes it or not, it becomes increasingly clear that cavities are a systemic social disease, not just dental, and if we’re honest, architecture is the most susceptible to it, as evidenced by the latest satellite images of Belgrade with Kulčina at its center. The work is signed by AK 0.7%, which at that time represented the total budget allocated for culture, and one thing is certain: if culture disappears, bridges will easily be able to grow in parks.