This month, the Mexican Wrestler has been on the hunt for snails in Rye. As usual, his search has prompted more thoughts on life and the world, if perhaps not the universe.
Jesus Carveros is an artist living in Rye. His work takes many forms – from spoken word and performance to appropriated found pieces to pottery, painting and sculpture. He also works with text as part of his practice.
Jesus describes himself as “a Mexican wrestler that doesn’t wrestle”. It’s more a way of life.
“Diary Entries” is a series of text-based pieces we are publishing in Rye News. We think you might find them intriguing and inspiring…
Diary Entry 109
I’m not sure why but I keep seeing snails in Rye.
Not people driving slowly.
Actual snails.
They look very similar to each other in appearance.
That shiny browny colour on the outside.
With a moist, slimy inner bit.
Seeing the snails gave me an idea.
I’d go on a snail crawl.
This would give me something interesting to do.
Well I did and I counted 267 snails today.
I walked around Rye with my eyes peeled.
Looking for snails.
And boy did I see lots.
It was very satisfying.
Some snails are a lot easier to spot than others.
Some snails are in obvious places.
Some snails are hidden away.
I found 6 on the bottom edges of drainpipes.
49 were on walls in the High Street.
28 were on window ledges.
64 were in cracks between buildings.
31 were on glass window panes.
3 were on front doors.
1 was on a bin.
I can’t remember where the others were as I lost track.
I was thinking to myself: “What am I doing walking around Rye counting snails?”
It dawned on me that I was the only person doing this.
Numerous passers-by asked me what I was doing as I was wearing a high-vis, reflective yellow jacket, and a pith helmet.
The jacket allowed people to see me easily.
And the pith helmet gave the impression I was an explorer from the 1940s.
I had my black Wellingtons on too.
Just in case.
They are one size too small and they hurt my feet.
When I wear them I limp.
I was on my knees (bending down) a lot so I wore knee pads.
When you bend down and put pressure on your knees I find knee pads help.
They make a little cushion between your knee and the hard ground.
I didn’t actually touch any snails.
I just looked at them and took photos of them on my Olympus 35mm camera.
I like the Olympus as it’s small and easy to handle.
The only problem is that it’s not digital.
I have to buy 35mm film and load it by hand.
Then unload it and get it developed.
Then I have to print photos from the negatives.
Even though I have my own darkroom at home it takes ages to print photos.
Youngsters these days have no idea what we used to have to do to get a printed photo.
These days they all have iPhones and see the image immediately.
In some way this makes things a bit too easy.
They just take lots of photos instead of concentrating on each individual image.
It’s a lazy way to take photos.
Anyway I photographed each snail.
And made a note of the time and the place of each photo.
I wrote these details (using a Bic biro) in my notepad.
I like to use old methods where I can.
Writing instead of typing.
A proper notebook instead of a tablet.
Dunno about you but I find the word “tablet” very annoying.
Tablet?
I always thought a tablet was the same as a pill.
Not these days it isn’t.
It’s a small computer.
Why did they call it a tablet?
It’s not a tablet.
It’s a small computer.
Anyhow I’m going back out tomorrow to see if the snails have moved.
I can’t wait.
If you see me please stop and say hello.
Counting snails can be a lonely business.
It’s nice when people stop and chat.
Much better than sending texts or emails.
Whatever happened to talking?
Talking of talking, I made an important discovery.
Something I never knew happened.
If you look very closely at a snail you can see it’s got a little face.
It has a mouth and eyes but no nose.
Watch closely and you’ll see the mouth start to move.
I think snails talk.
Don’t ask me what language.
Obviously not English.
Well I don’t think it’s English but it might be.
I wonder if snails in England talk the same language as snails in France?
Image Credits: Roderick Field .
L’escargot or Esperanto?
I write at a snail’s pace. It’s taken me 47 minutes to type this. But at least l didn’t leave a trail.
Come on rye news what I load of rubbish surely you must have a better subject to report on then a man going around rye town counting snails.
Vic v
If this was Facebook I’d be clicking the like button.
Over the years we have seen many odd balls in this town,remember the chap that used to sit outside the church with a new overcoat on,in the middle of summer.
Nobody has yet counted all the snails in the world. Nature lovers would like to know the answer. Jesus Carveros must continue counting. The world might thank him later…
Jesus’s Carveros was formerly a south London scrap metal dealer & up and coming TV quiz master but threw it all away to assume the guise of a Mexican wrestler and pursue his lifelong dream of snail hunting in his adopted home of Rye.
One can only wish him every success!
It has been said that eccentricity is merely a plethora of common sense. Common sense doesn’t have to be dull. More power to your elbow Mex.
Jesus shows us that by slowing down, and looking at the overlooked, there are great rewards to be gained. For it is only those who seek that find, and are granted access to the mysterious world of hidden wonders.
I used to take part in snail racing, my best boy was a snail called ‘Salty Boy’. In a strategic move to win races, I removed his shell but he just became sluggish.