Brutal & Natural is a series of oil paintings that explores the relationship between urban architecture and the persistent presence of nature within the built environment. Through façades, scaffolding, streets, concrete structures, and subtle traces of vegetation, the works create contemporary landscapes where the city becomes both a physical and emotional territory.
The project emerges from the observation of overlooked urban spaces and environments in transition. Nature is not always represented directly; rather, it exists as a latent force revealed through light, erosion, cracks, repetition, and chance. This coexistence between the constructed and the organic speaks of transformation, impermanence, and resilience.
Although the compositions are rooted in architectural forms, much of the work is painted freehand, without rulers or measuring tools. This approach introduces a subtle tension between structure and gesture, precision and imperfection, allowing a more human and organic presence to emerge within rigid geometries.
My background in architectural visualisation informs the way I approach space, perspective, and light. The paintings often begin with photographs of the city, which are later transformed into subjective interpretations that move between realism and abstraction.
Living with ADHD and colour blindness has also influenced my visual language, leading to a restrained palette and a heightened sensitivity to atmosphere, rhythm, and spatial tension. Rather than focusing on literal representation, the work seeks to evoke the emotional and sensory experience of inhabiting contemporary urban environments.
Through Brutal & Natural, I invite viewers into a space of contemplation and quiet reflection, where the city is revealed as a living ecosystem in constant transformation. The series questions whether nature can still reclaim space within the harsh yet compelling beauty of the modern urban landscape.