project : urban
Urban spaces are often depicted through a lens of perfection, showcasing sleek architecture, vibrant streets, and meticulously curated images of city life. However, towns and cities are far more than their postcard moments.
Beneath the polished facades lies an undercurrent of imperfection—cracks in the pavement, worn-out walls, aging infrastructure, and the everyday chaos that reveals the soul of urban life. The aim of this photo project is to focus on these imperfections, capturing the raw beauty and authenticity often overlooked in urban environments.
The imperfections of cities tell their own stories. Rusted pipes, peeling paint, and graffiti-covered walls speak of time passing, human impact, and the city's evolving identity. This project seeks to shift the perspective away from idealized views, instead emphasizing the charm, grit, and history embedded in the overlooked details. By documenting urban flaws, we challenge conventional notions of beauty, urging viewers to find aesthetic value in the imperfect.
Moreover, cities are in constant flux, shaped by their communities and economic forces, resulting in abandoned spaces, deteriorating buildings, and uneven development.
These imperfections can also reveal social and economic disparities. By documenting these elements, the project also becomes a subtle commentary on urban planning, social inequality, and the relationship between cities and their inhabitants.
Graffiti, litter, uneven sidewalks, or crumbling walls are often considered eyesores. However, within this "urban clutter," there are hidden patterns, textures, and stories that can be artistically significant. The interplay of shadows on a broken window or the colours of chipped paint on a forgotten alley can evoke a sense of wonder.
Cities are shaped by people, and their imperfections are reflective of this human presence. Footprints on the sidewalk, a missing brick, a forgotten toy in an alley—these details capture the spontaneous, imperfect, and unpredictable nature of urban living.
