Prisons and Promises - Beautiful loneliness

The series "Prisons and Promises," a long-term ongoing photo-based project, delves into profound themes of isolation, confinement, and unfulfilled expectations. As I, the newcomer, walk through the streets, I can't help but notice the signs of wear and tear. I feel a sense of beautiful loneliness that connects deeply with me.  The similarities in the design of correctional facilities and the architectural similarities to schools and other institutional buildings drew me in. 

The Ottawa neighborhood of Borden Farm/Fisher Glen in 2023 is a desert with only one independent coffee shop, an older library, potholed streets, repurposed schools, and empty strip mall businesses. Sprinkled along Merivale Road and Fisher Avenue arteries are thrift stores, supermarkets, retirement homes, long-term care units, churches, apartment buildings, condos, single-family homes, and the odd pocket of social housing and rented aging homes are now housing students from Algonquin College and a new set of immigrants.

The images in the "Prisons and Promises" series explore the themes of confinement, decay, and the dichotomy between vibrant expression and restricted environments. They offer an invitation to reflect on the limitations imposed by societal structures and the potential for growth and renewal even within confining spaces. The juxtapositions in the series reflect the contrast between confinement and the allure of promises. At the same time, the starkness of the season further enhances the overall mood, emphasizing the isolation and quietude permeating the surroundings. The atmosphere is anticipation as if something significant is about to unfold.

Our urban centers are constantly evolving. While "Prisons and Promises" primarily features an Ottawa neighborhood, its themes resonate with urban centers nationwide. Amidst the everyday sights of communities on the brink of change - decay or reinvention - lies the underlying uncertainty, waiting to be explored and contemplated.