There exist some spaces in the city that one appreciates and some that evoke strong feelings of ‘disgust’ among others. This stems from a complex interplay of memory, context, and knowledge, both inherent and borrowed. Whilst one immerses themselves in the spaces they are fond of, they actively avoid the latter. It becomes important to recognize that these problems we perceive are not inherent characteristics of the city itself, but rather, a reflection of an individual’s personal beliefs, knowledge, and circumstances. Unlike fondness, the feeling of disgust elicits an alienating or exclusionary reaction. 

 

In the midst of this duality, the phrase 'not in my backyard' takes on heightened significance, which triggers an apparent response to these urban perceptions that involves identifying these perceptions as problems that need resolution through a language of imposing order and control - an approach shaped historically by the colonial and modern hegemonies. With the challenge of unlearning these conventional methods of reading, understanding, and thus engaging with the city, the participants consciously spent time within their spaces of disgust, to experience them through their physical selves and senses. 

 

Upon perceiving the site through the forces and rhythms existing in it, one must think of ways of engaging with them. Engagement, here, is consciously defined as distinct from mere reaction or intervention, representing a meaningful interaction with the city's rhythms and forces while refraining from the urge to identify and resolve perceived problems.