New York Unseen: Abstracted

'New York Unseen: Abstracted' captures NYC's hidden tranquility amidst chaos, influenced by abstract art and electronic music, offering a fresh perspective on the city's landscapes.

'New York Unseen: Abstracted' is a series about discovering New York in an abstract photographic way, paying homage to the legacy of abstract art in America while providing a fresh perspective on the contemporary urban landscape. From the objects routinely seen within daily life to the architecture, walls, constructions, cars and other 'products' of human activity this project aims to go beyond the surface, unravelling the layers of things so ordinary they escape our attention.

New York City, often hailed as the epitome of hustle and bustle, is renowned for its overcrowded streets, a constant symphony of honking horns and hurried footsteps. However, within this chaotic exterior lies a hidden world of solitude and calmness that often goes unnoticed. This project seeks to unveil the quieter, more contemplative side of the city, capturing moments of tranquility amid the routine chaos.

Working on the project for the second year in a row, I am discovering New York through the eyes of locals by asking them what areas I should attend, to discover the diversity and absurdity of The Big Apple. For me, NYC is a big blank canvas and photography is a brush, a tool which I use for self-expression. This is another side of the project: I truly believe that photography is such an underrated genre of art nowadays. It’s only 10% of the art world, however I think we still don’t know so much about this incredible new medium. The work of Mark Rothko, Jackson Pollock, Ellsworth Kelly, Agnes Martin, among other amazing artists, working with the same approach, inspired me to create my own abstract pieces through the city’s landscapes.

Another important part of the project was listening to electronic music while working on the NYC streets: minimal, techno, tech house. As the its sounds enveloped the 'workspace' a profound transformation took place in the approach to capturing images and the perspective through which they were seen. It had a massive influence on the outcome.

As Matisse said: 'What I dream of is an art of balance, of purity and serenity devoid of troubling or depressing subject matter - a soothing, calming influence on the mind, rather like a good armchair which provides relaxation from physical fatigue.' I hope the envisioned book and exhibition will serve as a visual journey, inviting viewers to experience the city in a novel and thought-provoking way and will give the same feelings described by Matisse for spectators.