A postbox from which letters jut precariously; an empty rattan chair in the shade; washing freshly hung to dry; a ladder leant against an alley wall; subjects that explore presence and absence in the midst of one of the most densely populated cities in the world. The figure of each picture strangely absent, as if just left for some other purpose. The residue of man’s passage.

On closer inspection, the decayed mortar, rusted pipes, peeling paint and weather stains depict a much longer time, the character of a city aging and becoming less distinct. The paintings exhibit blur and sharpness to contrast the city’s constant flux with the forgotten details that seem to waste away before our eyes.

These paintings use a Renaissance oil technique: starting with a ground and building up multiple glazes. Using transparent glazes creates a deep and rich colour that pops off the page, as if infusing them with taste and scent. The process can take a few months to complete as each layer is added.