In my continued efforts to share information and insight about international street art, I try very hard to get direct translations from the natives of whatever particular country I happen to be in at the time. Here is a verbatim text chat I had last night with my main translator in Ukraine. Confusion abounds, to say the least. But, eventually the answer will be revealed.

Vlad: Flower. Holland national flower. Tulip.

Jackie: Does it say “Tulip?”

V: I’ve just translated it. Is it a flower “tulip?”

J: You’re being mean in English. Softer. It says specifically, “Is it a flower tulip?”

V: No no no. It was a question. Is it a flower?

J: It says “Is it a flower?” It’s a question?

V: No. I’m asking you.

J: Just WHAT does the Cyrillic say?!

V: Wait. From the beginning…

J: What does the yellow say?! That’s all!

V: So, I don’t know what it says, BUT I know that word means ‘flower.’ Special flower. I think it is ‘tulip.’

J: So, “flower?”

V: Yes. BUT ‘Special Flower.’ Like, you know, ‘camomile.’ That particular flower is a tulip.

J: Fuck it. I don’t know what to write. I just want to know the EXACT translation of the yellow word!!!!

V: Tulip.

J: Wow.

V: Who is mean now?

J: Lol. Literally. Thank you for that. Omg. I needed to laugh.

V: You’re welcome.

The End.

So, you can see, the answer was actually in the first sentence.

29mar15. Kamianets-Podilskyi, Ukraine.