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<b>Traveler City Chisinau<br>by Adel Idris</b><p> The young country of Moldova, like any other “post,” experiences difficulties in development, especially in the labor market. This makes thousands of able Moldovans look for work abroad, and for each arbeiter this is not the result of social currents and trends, this is a “personal story,” the desire to see the world, to fulfill a cherished dream, the eternal chase after the blue bird, “the search for the Grail and the Promised Land.” These ideas, which are deeply seated in the public consciousness, have created an epicenter of tension around geographical objects: cities, countries in Europe, USA, Canada. If plans for the future pop up in a conversation, or the discussion brings up possible further actions in these difficult and unstable times, then plans to leave invariably appear on the scene, stories about opportunities and ways for emigration, while the number of connections and the ability to leave enhance one’s social attractiveness and status. <p> As I am a member of society, I reflected on this emigration-prone state of society and decided to transfer this problem to a different dimension. <p> My God, why is it only people that can go about the world? My native city of Chisinau should also see the world, see how other cities live, exchange and gain experience, and just rest. <p> But in order to do this one should prepare. <p> My suit. This is the city projected on details of the clothing. The main place, Chisinau’s square, took the spot on the hat; the industrial areas and the center embellished the shirt, other parts of the city were accommodated on the pants and the shoes. In this map-suit, strewn with signs of street head to foot, I become a magician, shaman, trickster. In this capacity of mine I hear the inner voice of the City and serve as a guide for its will and desires. <p> The difficult, impossible task of moving the city to a new place has a simple solution; the city is composed of streets, the streets are represented by plates. Going along this chain city=streets=plates, moving from the level of the city to the level of its streets and on to the plates, we pack them into a “magic trunk” and… And Chisinau goes to see the world. <p> What will this trip give… <p> It will enrich the mentality and the inner content of the city. <br>Creating the possibility of a direct dialogue between cities, tête-à-tête, has a lot of potential. City movement, geo discourse. And allowing Chisinau natives living abroad to immerse themselves again into the atmosphere of their native city—how noble of me. <p> Travel… Whereto? Chisinau has been in one place for too long (536 years, to be precise), and there are so many places to visit. Return visits to Leo Tolstoy in Yasnaia Poliana, and Fidel Castro can’t be ignored either, not to speak about the huge diaspora of Chisinau natives who work and live in Israel, Portugal, France—they will be extremely happy to see again their old, familiar Chisinau. And Chisinau itself will be happy too—the first traveler city. <p> The Balkans also represents a huge field for travel and discoveries. Belgrade is a cultural center coming back to life, and Chisinau can’t but meet it, setting up needed links—this is so important! And Paris? How many places and impressions are waiting ahead for my beloved city. <p>Adel Idris is a Moldovan artist (born in 1997).<br>Check also <A HREF="http://bostan.ournet.md/carbonart_fire.html">his recent project</a> for Carbonart.<br>For further information contact <a href="mailto:dragneva@lycos.com">KSA:K</a> in Chisinau.