In February 2014 a mysterious user appeared on Twitter under the pseudonym Landscape Pisstake (@landscapePtake), with an aerial shot of Melbourne’s Werribee sewage Treatment Plant as a profile photo.
Three years later, and despite the temptation of the time they won a bike from Lappset (see below), the anonymous larrikin commentary is still going strong.
StreetChat speaks with this industry treasure.
@landscapePtake: Before we start I’d just like to thank you for the opportunity to be a part of your StreetChat series. The industry has been kind to me over the years and it’s a great pleasure to be able to give back.
I really admire the work that Street Furniture Australia does with furniture that ends up living on the street in Australia. It’s a great cause.
What drew you to Landscape Architecture?
Well, I’d always wanted to study food technology. I like food and I like technology, so it was a no-brainer. As it happens, the course code for the food technology course is quite similar to Landscape Architecture. I made a small error on my university enrolment form and here I am.
Why did you start Landscape Pisstake (@landscapePtake) on Twitter?
It’s the money, to be honest. I heard a marketing person say that each follower you have is worth hundreds of dollars. So Twitter has made me quite rich. It’s just that my wealth is tied up in followers at the moment.
I was thinking of expanding my reach to Facebook, but every time I log in I get accosted by someone inviting me to a school reunion. Also, it just doesn’t feel right taking the piss in amongst photos of kids with their dinner smeared cutely over their chubby little cheeks.
Your content on Twitter manages to be both hilariously funny and penetratingly insightful at the same time. Do you think you might be a genius?
(Note to editor: I know that we’re pretending that you wrote these questions, so if you think ‘a genius’ is a bit much, I’d be happy to substitute ‘very, very clever and smart.’)
Hmmm… what a great question. I think the answer would have to be yes.
But, it’s not easy you know. Being anonymous does have drawbacks. There was that bike I won at the AILA National Conference a few years ago that I couldn’t claim without blowing my cover. I’ve since acquired a drone with a note attached saying ‘put prize here’ that I’ll use if such situations arise in the future. I’ve also prepared a note for my drone saying ‘put envelope full of money here’ for the many sponsorship deals that are likely to come pouring in any day now.
Also, I’m quite busy and important so I think we’ll have to leave it there. The butler will show you out.
