Stay Gold

All that glitters is not gold in here. After photographing on the Sydney streets relentlessly for more than 10 years now, I feel disillusioned in a city where the cost of living has skyrocketed and the 'Australian Dream' never further out of reach. A city where the interests of businesses and the political agenda of government outweigh the lifestyles that were once cherished; and a city where it is easy to find yourself on its margins. In these images, I am seeking to document the remnants of a bygone era amid the relentless pace of modern life. Each image is a balance between the present and the past, highlighting the subtle intersections where memories linger through the city's architecture, people, and everyday scenes. In a reaction to the burgeoning AI age, I began to use the tangible medium of consumer film in September 2023, namely Kodak Gold, where the texture and imperfections of analog photography mirrors the fallibility of memory. I hope to provoke a sense of reflection and connection, encouraging viewers to pause and contemplate the layers of time embedded in Sydney's streets. This project is a homage to the city's evolving identity and a reminder of the beauty found in the everyday, the forgotten, and the nearly lost.