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April 2, 2005
Minor urban mystery
Has anyone else seen the graffiti stencilled around Edinburgh which reads, in Cyrillic lettering, dyevyat' (Russian for the number 9)? I first started seeing these three years or so ago. There appears to be only one master stencil, rather stylised. Does anyone know the significance of this, and is it unique to Edinburgh?
While we're on the topic, Lyndon Allin compiles Moscow graffiti.
When I first moved into my apartment building in Ozerki, I saw something that left me feeling quite reassured about the local thuggery: in the "foyer", above a skeleton of hollowed-out mailboxes-in-name-only that looked rather like an abandoned metal beehive - the bold graffito, "Pet Shop Boys".
Update: I've somehow managed to find a photo online. (Supersubtle googlestry.)
(Photo by duncancumming.co.uk)
Posted by michele at April 2, 2005 1:38 PM
Comments
A devyakta or "9" is the newest Moskvitch car. Aside from that, a "9" being of any particular signifcance, there really is none. However, a "6" or the phrase "schestorka" in blotnoy jargon means the jail house queer who get's traded for cigs and tea.
Therefore I would assume that your artist is either a jailhouse homo suffering from dislexia and/or vertigo or a homesick car lover who feels the creative urge to advertize his longing for his favorite automoblie.
Posted by: Turmerlebnis at April 5, 2005 7:08 PM
I'm charmed by your improbable cognitive leaps.
Posted by: Michele at April 6, 2005 12:43 AM
Is it part of a fued between rival super strength lager gangs?
http://www.bravosolutions.com/beer/Baltika/Baltika9.JPG
Posted by: Super at April 6, 2005 7:36 PM
i took that photo. I think I might have seen the same stencil in a few other places in Edinburgh. I have no idea who it's by or what the significance of it is.
Posted by: duncan at April 10, 2005 10:39 PM
Turmerlebnis, you were misinformed.
Look here, f.ex. http://www.slovari.gramota.ru/portal_sl.html
ШЕСТЁРКА2 ж. разг.-сниж.
1. Тот, кто находится в беспрекословном подчинении у кого-л., выполняет все его поручения.
ШЕСТЁРКА3 ж. устар.
1. Слуга в трактире, ресторане и т.п.; половой.
You're correct that it is a word used in blatnoj jargon, but it means somebody serving a person higher in hierarchy - doing required work for him, cleaning his belongings and backing him up in case of any trouble; queers are called differently.
Tatyana
Posted by: Tatyana at April 24, 2005 5:22 PM
Perhaps the being-traded-for-cigs-and-tea is just one of the services the unfortunate shesterka must perform for his superior?
Posted by: Michele at April 24, 2005 5:34 PM
Very unlikely. Devotion cost more than disposable objects - it can be recycled indefinitely - or until the boss toppled by someone new.
Posted by: Tatyana at April 24, 2005 6:48 PM