The Beauty in Decay: How Litter Becomes Art

In the ever-changing landscape of urban environments, litter is often seen as a blemish, a sign of neglect, disorder, or the throwaway culture we inhabit.

Yet, for those who look closer, these discarded fragments tell a different story. Torn posters, neglected advertising and weather-worn walls and fences evolve over time, transforming into abstract compositions shaped by nature and the elements. What was once waste becomes an unintentional form of art, rich in texture, color, and narrative.

Finding Art in the Unexpected

Walking through city streets, I am drawn to the overlooked corners where decay has created something visually compelling. A peeling advertisement, once pristine and full of commercial intent, now reveals layers of history exposing glimpses of past messages, blending into a chaotic yet harmonious composition. The city itself becomes the artist, sculpting these ephemeral pieces through time and exposure.

This fascination is what drives my Obscura series; a photographic exploration of urban remnants. Capturing these fleeting moments allows me to preserve their accidental beauty, reframing what many would see as disposable into something worthy of contemplation.

Texture, Time, and Transformation

One of the most captivating aspects of these discarded elements is their texture. Paper that has been soaked by rain and dried by the sun takes on a new life, its crumples and folds creating intricate patterns. Rust bleeds into surfaces, adding depth and warmth to otherwise mundane materials. As layers of posters peel away, they reveal unexpected juxtapositions - fragments of faces, bold typography, and splashes of color colliding in unpredictable ways.

There is an alchemy at play here; time, weather, and chance collaborating to create compositions that could never be deliberately designed. Each piece of urban debris becomes a microcosm of transformation, where destruction and creation exist side by side.

Reframing Perception

By capturing these elements through photography, I invite viewers to see their surroundings differently. Instead of dismissing litter as mere waste, we can recognize its aesthetic and conceptual potential. What does a torn poster say about time and impermanence? How do these remnants reflect the character of a place? By shifting perspective, we find beauty where we least expect it.

A New Appreciation for the Forgotten

The beauty in decay is not about glorifying neglect but about acknowledging the transient and ever-evolving nature of our world. Art is not always found in the pristine and intentional; it often emerges in the overlooked and the accidental. Through photography, I try to document and celebrate these ephemeral compositions before they disappear entirely, lost to the next layer of posters, the weather, or the inevitable sweep of the street cleaner.

So next time you walk through your city, take a moment to notice the forgotten corners. You might just find art in the most unexpected places.