Wall of Gum

Amy Stanton

The throngs of people who have visited the market have left their imprint on it in various ways. The pavement in the arcades is worn down by the feet that have trod through those corridors throughout the past century. In this young country which prides itself on the shiniest and the newest spectacles, it’s unusual for anyplace to be allowed to show signs of age and use. The market provides us with a physical connection to a long and interesting past.

One of the more unusual signs of visitors come and gone can be found at the great Wall of Gum, which started out humbly enough. In the early 1990’s, patrons of the Market Theater left bits of gum on the wall while waiting in line to buy tickets. Through time, the spectacle has grown into something sublime. Painstakingly spelled out in the sticky substance are names of sweethearts and exhortations for peace and harmony. It’s as colorful and eclectic as the market’s patrons themselves.


As selected by Sir Isaac Lime for Utata's Viewer's Choice project.

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