The focus for my sketchbook is transportation- a topic that allows me to capture bits and pieces of Italian life and the way that people move around the city. Coming from America, where owning a car is practically essential in most cities, adjusting to public transportation has been quite a task.
Trams, buses, subways, trains- all of these are pretty foreign to me, especially since I’ve lived in cities with no real public transport to speak of. (Do the buses really count in Austin?) Understanding the trams and subways has taken some time, but that doesn’t stop me from looking on at the cars and scooters with envy.
It’s easy to see why the tiny cars and Vespas became a symbol of independence. With the lack of space in the city and fast pace on the streets, having a small, nimble vehicle is the best option for those commuting or with little time to fuss with public transport. However, I would like to imagine that car and scooter owners still ride the subway, but that their vehicles allow them the choice in the matter of their transportation.
Alternatively, cars can also be a symbol of status and glamour. We visited the Museo della Scienza e della Tecnologia “Leonardo da Vinci” where some of the most famous Italian cars in history were on exhibit. I sketched the 1955 Bisiluro Dalmonar (an aerodynamic racer that proved to be too aerodynamic) and an Alfa Romero circa 1932. Yes, an automobile can be a symbol and tool for independence- but also for style.