Photographs by ALEXANDER BANDELA

STREET SESSIONS 

My work is a visual exploration of the rhythms, nuances, and quiet poetry found in everyday street life. Through painting, I aim to capture fleeting moments that are often overlooked—glances exchanged at a crosswalk, the geometry of shadows cast by scaffolding, or the layered textures of weathered walls and urban signage.

These scenes are not grand narratives, but rather intimate snapshots that reflect the pulse of daily existence in shared public spaces. I’m drawn to the ordinary because it holds a raw authenticity; it tells stories without trying to. The street is a living canvas of spontaneity, contradiction, and humanity—where chaos and stillness coexist, and where every passerby becomes both subject and storyteller.

My process involves a combination of observation, photography, and memory. I work in layers, allowing forms and colours to emerge organically, often embracing imperfections that mirror the grit and impermanence of city life. Colour is central to my work—not only to evoke mood, but to amplify the emotional undertones of a scene that might otherwise go unnoticed.

Ultimately, my paintings are acts of attention. They invite viewers to slow down and find beauty in the mundane—to recognise that the street, in all its complexity and imperfection, is a rich and ever-evolving source of connection, narrative, and meaning.