buildings in Reykjavik

Posted on July 13, 2026 Posted in UncategorizedTagged adventkirkjan, architecture, beard, bicycle, blackandwhite, bnw, building, bw, ceiling, church, clock, clouds, coca-cola, concrete, deck, design, door, doors, entrance, facade, fence, glass, graffiti, grass, gray, harpa, house, iceland, interior, inviting, landscape, light, minimalism, modern, monochrome, Nature, noiretblanc, outdoors, people, photo, photography, poster, reflection, Reykjavik, roof, shadow, ship, sky, staircase, steps, structure, symmetry, texture, textures, tower, Urban, water, weathervane, white, windows, woodLeave a comment

rok restaurant

Description for the visually challenged

A black wooden building with a steeply pitched roof covered in grass. The front features large windows and a door, with decorative elements above the door. In the foreground, there is a bicycle and a trash bin. The background includes trees and other buildings.

harbour hut

Description for the visually challenged

A wooden house with a steeply pitched roof is shown. The front has four windows, two on the upper level and two on the lower level, with a white wall on the left side. The house is set against a cloudy sky, and a wooden deck is visible in the foreground.

hamborgara bullan – tommi’s burger joint

Description for the visually challenged

A tall clock tower is visible, with a Coca-Cola logo on its side. The clock shows a time close to 12:00. Below the clock, there is a poster featuring a man with a beard holding a dish, along with text in a language that includes ‘Nýt & Búhúmali’. The background shows a blue sky with clouds and a ship in the distance.

harpa concert hall – interior

Description for the visually challenged

The image shows a modern interior space with a high ceiling and large windows. A staircase with a glass railing leads to an upper level. The ceiling features a reflective, hexagonal pattern, and the walls are made of concrete. In the background, there are tables and chairs, possibly indicating a gathering area.

harpa concert hall – interior

Description for the visually challenged

The image shows a modern interior space with a high ceiling and large windows. The ceiling features a reflective, hexagonal pattern, while the walls are made of concrete. A staircase with glass railings leads to an upper level, and there are tables and chairs visible in the background.

harpa concert hall – interior

Description for the visually challenged

The image shows a modern interior space with a large, angular staircase made of metal and glass. The walls are gray concrete, and there are reflections of light on the surfaces. In the background, people can be seen, and a sign with the text ‘Norðurljós’ is visible on the wall.

adventkirkjan

Description for the visually challenged

The image shows a white church building with a sloped roof and a weather vane at the top. The entrance features a large archway with a double door painted in gray. The word ‘ADVENTKIRKJAN’ is displayed above the door, and there are steps leading up to the entrance. The background is mostly clear, with some clouds visible in the sky.

hallgrimskirkja

Description for the visually challenged

The image shows a tall, textured building viewed from below, with a series of vertical, protruding elements on one side. The structure has a large archway at the bottom and several small windows along the upper section. The photo is in black and white, emphasizing the contrast between light and shadow.

high contrast house

Description for the visually challenged

The image shows two buildings in black and white. The building on the right has a white exterior with multiple windows, some displaying graffiti that reads ‘ART’. The building on the left has a corrugated metal roof and a vertical striped facade. The background is a clear sky.

reykjavík junior college

Description for the visually challenged

A large white building with a peaked roof and multiple windows stands prominently. The structure has a central entrance with steps leading up to it. In the foreground, there are stone steps and a grassy area, while a chain fence runs along the front of the building. The sky appears cloudy and bright.

reykjavik city hall

Description for the visually challenged

A modern building with a curved roof and concrete pillars stands near a reflective pool of water. A large, round orange object is positioned in the water, and the building’s glass facade reflects nearby structures. The scene is in black and white, with people walking in the foreground.

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Hubbard Street Murals

Posted on July 11, 2026 Posted in Chicago, mural, photography, street-artTagged aging, Art, background, black, blue, butterfly, Chicago, color, colorful, community, crack, creativity, dark, decay, design, ducks, elephant, expression, falcon, foliage, frog, genre, gray, greenery, hubbardstreet, illinois, illustration, insect, mood, mural, Nature, photo, photography, places, publicart, reptile, rhino, signs, street, streetart, texture, Urban, USA, vibrant, wall, walrus, wear, white, woodpeckerLeave a comment

This is part of a project to photograph some of what was the Hubbard Street mural project initiated in the 1970’s by Ricardo Alonzo, an Art Institute of Chicago graduate.

Over an eight-year period, Alonzo and volunteers from the West Town Community Art Center painted murals along a mile-long stretch of Hubbard Street, from Des Plaines to Ogden, until their funding ran out in 1979.

I first noticed the murals out my Metra train window while I was looking to produce a project influenced by Wabi-sabi, and how it translates to an urban environment outside of Japan.

They provided an ideal way to explore how time and decay have affected these artworks. The originals would have been vibrant and colourful, time, paint overs, weather and construction have taken their toll on the work.

Most people will not see the murals because they are in an obscure place, where most people wouldn’t ordinarily have a chance to view them.

I want to raise awareness of this still-vibrant, if fading, original community project, and to introduce some of my work locally.

After producing some shots in monochrome, I decided to reshoot the set in color to have a better record of the original work.

walrus

Original notes

A mural depicting a walrus is painted on a wal

Description for the visually challenged

A mural depicting a walrus is painted on a wall. The walrus is primarily blue with white accents and is positioned against a dark background. Green leaves from a nearby plant partially obscure the top of the mural.

woodpecker

Description for the visually challenged

The image features a mural of a woodpecker on a wall. The woodpecker has a red head, black and white body, and is depicted in profile. There is a vertical crack running through the mural, and the background is dark with some blue elements.

leaping frog

Description for the visually challenged

A colorful mural of a frog is painted on a dark wall. The frog features green, yellow, and purple colors, with visible details like its limbs and webbed feet. The wall shows signs of wear and decay, with cracks and dirt present around the mural.

reptile

Description for the visually challenged

The image shows a mural of a large, stylized reptile’s face, featuring blue and green tones. The reptile has sharp teeth and a textured skin pattern. The mural is partially obscured by a vertical crack in the wall, with some dirt and grime visible around the edges.

bird of prey

Description for the visually challenged

A mural of a bird, possibly a falcon, is depicted on a textured wall. The bird has a light blue head, a yellow beak, and a body with intricate patterns in shades of beige and blue. The background is dark with visible wear and peeling paint.

butterfly

Description for the visually challenged

The image features a mural of a butterfly with predominantly black wings adorned with yellow spots and blue outlines. The background is a mix of blue and textured surfaces, with hints of pink and green elements nearby. The mural appears to be weathered and partially obscured by dirt.

busy bee

Description for the visually challenged

A colorful mural depicting a stylized insect, possibly a bee, is partially obscured by green foliage. The insect features blue, yellow, and black colors, with a textured background of pink and gray. The foreground includes various green leaves and plants.

elephant

Description for the visually challenged

The image shows a mural of an elephant’s head on a textured, dark background. The elephant is depicted in shades of gray with white tusks and hints of color on its body. The surface is worn and shows signs of aging and dirt.

rhinoceros

Description for the visually challenged

The image features a mural of a rhinoceros, predominantly in shades of gray and white, set against a dark background. The mural shows the rhinoceros’s head and part of its body, with visible texture and wear on the surface. In the foreground, there are green leaves partially obscuring the bottom right corner.

a couple of ducks

Description for the visually challenged

A mural depicting two ducks is visible on a weathered wall. One duck is shown in profile with a green head and a light-colored body, while the other duck appears to be resting with a grayish body. The background features muted colors and textures, with visible cracks in the surface.

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abandoned corporate spaces unveiled

Posted on July 9, 2026 Posted in photography, urban explorationTagged abandoned, acceptance, building, canon, ceiling, Deerfield, eosr5, facade, fixture, genre, glass, glass wall, illinois, meeting room, meetingroom, mood, office, Other, parking area, photo, photography, places, postcapitalist, rectangle, redundant, reflection, shade, shadows, tintsandshades, tree, Urban, Urbanex, USA, whiteboard, window, woodLeave a comment

the time for blue sky thinking is long gone

Original notes

picture of meeting room in a disused meeting room

Description for the visually challenged

A glass wall reflects a tree and a parking area outside. The wall features a whiteboard with faint markings and a sign labeled ‘1NW1 145-113’. Light creates shadows on the floor, and the overall setting appears empty and unused.

Embracing Impermanence and Sustainability

Original notes

This photo series captures the eerie tranquility of a once-bustling corporate campus, now an abandoned conference center. Emphasizing the impermanence of structures and the need for adaptive reuse, the images remind us of the environmental impact of construction. Cement production, the third-largest contributor to climate change, necessitates a shift toward repurposing existing buildings rather than creating short-lived, expendable office spaces. The series highlights the urgency of sustainable practices in architecture and urban planning.

Description for the visually challenged

The image shows a large, modern building with a glass facade and a reddish frame. Two bare trees stand in front of the building, one on the left and one on the right. The ground is paved, and there is a street lamp near the left tree. The sky appears overcast.

pretty vacant

Original notes

The image is intended to explore the intersection between the built environment and the emotional experiences of people who once worked in these spaces. It invites viewers to reflect on the fleeting nature of human existence, the impact of societal changes on urban landscapes, and the emotions tied to forgotten spaces.

Description for the visually challenged

The image shows a wide, empty road lined with bare trees, leading towards a pair of large, modern buildings. A glass skybridge connects the two buildings at the center of the frame. The buildings have a pink and beige facade with large windows reflecting the sky.

veni vidi vici

Original notes

ssssssss

Description for the visually challenged

A wide view of an asphalt parking lot with circular tire marks on the ground. In the background, there are several bare trees and a building with multiple stories. The sky is mostly clear with some clouds.

once a shangri-La

Original notes

Capturing the essence of faded optimism and impermanence, this photograph portrays a disused picnic nook, a once well-intentioned addition for employee wellbeing, now standing as a relic of a bygone era. Although the bustling highway is unseen, its constant noise lingers, reminding us of the transient nature of our attempts to create a “Shangri-La.” This abandoned corporate campus scene evokes feelings of loneliness and decay, highlighting the inevitable transformation of utopias.not know

Description for the visually challenged

The image shows a disused picnic area surrounded by bare trees. There are several green picnic tables arranged on a paved path, leading to a circular concrete structure in the center filled with tall, dry grass. The sky is mostly clear with some clouds.

for sale

Original notes

Picture of an unused office building awaiting sale

Description for the visually challenged

A large, rectangular brick office building with multiple windows is shown. The facade features a symmetrical arrangement of windows, some reflecting the sky. In the foreground, there is an empty parking lot with marked spaces and a few trees on the side.

no idling zone

Original notes

picture of an lonely loading bay

Description for the visually challenged

The image shows a loading bay with a large, arched overhead structure painted in pink. In the foreground, there are two blue metal ramps positioned on a rusted platform. Surrounding the area are several yellow and gray cylindrical posts, and a wall with a sign is visible in the background.

unexpected installation art

Original notes

picture of unused office interior where someone painted graffiti

Description for the visually challenged

An empty office interior features large windows on the left side and a wall with graffiti on the opposite side. The floor is carpeted, and there are doors on the right side. The image is in black and white, highlighting the architectural lines and reflections.

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Artistic Reflections on Anonymity and Urban Life

Posted on September 13, 2025September 13, 2025 Posted in UncategorizedTagged Art, photographyLeave a comment

Some images stay with us for decades, resurfacing to link places and times that once seemed far apart. Three works of mine—from 1994, 2016, and the present—trace a continuous thread through themes of deindustrialization, anonymity, and urban life.

Dudley, 1994

A charcoal sketch of five figures, drawn with rough strokes. Behind them are tall, textured shapes resembling buildings. The sky and ground are shaded lightly. Simple, abstract lines add to the minimalistic design.

I stayed in a hotel inside the newly built Merry Hill Mall. It did not feel merry. It echoed the steelworks and housing that had been cleared away. This drawing, made rapidly in charcoal, captures a landscape where industry had given way to retail, yet without comfort. The figures bend forward, anonymous, trudging through a place drained of joy.

For over twenty years this picture was lost, only resurfacing recently. Seeing it again, I was struck by its closeness to the Chicago work, despite being created in isolation. Its rediscovery started me thinking about the connections between them.

Chicago, 2016

The image shows three people walking against a plain, white background with three vertical, thick, black bars of differing heights. The first person, a woman, is walking past the shortest bar. The second person, a man, walks past the middle-height bar. The third person, another man, is walking and reading a small book or device, in front of the tallest bar.

More than twenty years later, in Chicago, I made a second image. I was struck by the sight of people bent under routine, and thought of Lowry’s figures moving through harsh geometries. People pass in isolation, dwarfed by blocks of black and white. This picture echoes the first: a different continent, but the same themes of anonymity, repetition, and endurance.

Permanent Storage

The image is a monochrome collage where people appear to walk through large vertical gaps in a textured concrete wall. The figures are semi-transparent, blending with the rough surface, as if merging with their surroundings. — For times when more durable storage may be required. The key difference in this picture is that it represents something impossible, people, merging into some inanimate object. To a degree, this represents my concerns about nuclear weapons, where the flash etches shadows of people on concrete.

The third piece, from 2016, was part of a series I titled Travellers. It imagines shadows left behind, as if seared onto concrete. It hints at rupture and at cracks where glimpses of something else might be caught. Unlike the first two, which show figures locked in a cycle, this one suggests the possibility of movement between states—a faint hope of passage.

Methods and Media

The first work is charcoal on paper, capturing immediacy and atmosphere. The later two are manually constructed collages of photographs, layering fragments of reality into new forms.

Shared Themes

Deindustrialization and its aftermath.
Figures reduced to silhouettes, caught in systems larger than themselves.
Urban environments that absorb individuality.
A longing to break free, even when unsure where freedom would lead.

Motivation and Context

The Travellers series, which includes Permanent Storage, began with a collaborative and technical process. I was working with other artists to create double-exposure films, combining images from separate locations. During this time, I was reading John Berger’s essay “Understanding a Photograph,” which argues that a photograph represents a specific moment selected by the photographer, removed from its original context in time.

My goal became to challenge that singularity of context and moment. I set out to create digital collages from elements shot over an extended period in various places, making new wholes from choices made across time. I explored how isolated each element felt—whether people looked out of place or belonged.

Permanent Storage is a result of that process. While other pieces in the series play with whimsy or dislocation, this one represents something impossible and more profound: people merging into an inanimate object. It connects directly to my concerns about nuclear weapons, where a flash etches the shadows of people onto concrete. In this way, the series moves from technique to philosophy: these constructed images become like Berger’s “traces of lived experience,” not as single moments, but as layered fragments of memory and history. They are not polished answers but hints at what lies behind the visible.

Closing Thoughts

These works span decades, yet they circle the same ideas. Have the places shaped the pictures, or has my own perspective repeated itself across time? The third image may be the outlier, or it may point to a shift: a suggestion that through cracks in the wall, something else can be seen.

Clear lines, simple forms, recurring shadows—together they form a record of how environments shape us, and how, even in repetition, the possibility of change remains. Perhaps the shadow is not only a mark of what has been lost, but also a doorway to what is still possible. The rediscovery of the first picture, long missing, underlines this: what is forgotten can return, linking distant times and places.

Legacy and Learning: A Penang Temple Mural

Posted on May 27, 2025May 27, 2025 Posted in UncategorizedTagged ancestral hall, asia, Asian culture, calligraphy, child and elder, Chinese temple, Confucian values, contemplative scenes, cultural preservation, culture, family traditions, guided travel, harmony, heritage mural, history, ink painting, intergenerational wisdom, Khoo Kongsi, Malaysia, peaceful moments, Penang, photography, rice farming, Ricoh GR III, traditional art, travel, water buffalo, writingLeave a comment

The image shows a detailed ink painting featuring a child sitting atop an ox and holding an open book. An older man stands beside them with a hoe, looking upwards. To the right, stylized Chinese characters form a vertical inscription in a separate section.

This photograph was taken on March 26, 2025, during a guided tour of Khoo Kongsi, one of Penang’s most iconic Chinese clan temples. Hidden within the historic George Town enclave, Khoo Kongsi is a richly ornamented hall built by the Khoo clan as both an ancestral temple and a communal heart for Chinese-Malaysian heritage. Murals like this, tucked among its stone carvings and red pillars, reflect the community’s values across generations.

In the painting, an elderly farmer stands barefoot by his plow, guiding a water buffalo with a young boy perched atop. The child, clutching a text and reaching toward a drifting straw hat, appears animated—caught between study and play. The elder, gaze raised, follows the boy’s gesture, his demeanor a blend of patience and quiet joy. The buffalo, steady and alert, completes the trio, symbolizing harmony between human effort, nature, and transmission of wisdom.

Alongside, a calligraphic inscription proclaims:

> 詩書傳家久
> 耕讀繼世長
> “Poetry and books pass down through the family for a long time.
> Farming and studying continue from generation to generation.”

This classical couplet embodies Confucian ideals, celebrating the dignity of labor and the continuity of learning. Together, the scene and the inscription reflect a peaceful rhythm of rural life in which tradition and vitality coexist.

Though the figures are static, there’s a quiet energy in the boy’s gesture, a dynamism that doesn’t disturb the stillness of the moment. In the gentle arc between elder and youth, one might sense a truth echoed in many traditions: the old lives in the young, and the present holds the imprint of generations. While not overtly Zen, the composition invites contemplation and hints at the principle of interbeing — the way all things contain and reflect each other.

✍️ Artist’s Signature (lower right):

山人楊玄齋畫
“Painted by the mountain recluse, Yang Xuanzhai”