Unspoken Alleys

Tony Pan

Artist’s Statement

Translatability and nuances of language are deeply entwined with local communities, interactions, and often be found kept away in discrete alleyways tucked within urban centers. This series of photos were captured across France and Portugal during its summer months under mostly sunny conditions producing sharp contrasts, providing natural opportunities to frame and accentuate the words and letters. As a foreigner, being intentional with observing everyday surroundings for traces of language on mediums such as Lisbon trams and Parisian bistros has made me feel more intrinsically submerged within local lifestyles and cultures. This approach has allowed me to appreciate being present wherever I may be, whether attempting to translate words or look for photo opportunities, or both at once. Through this series, I hope to utilize my given environment to unveil new ways to document seemingly prevalent appearances of language in our immediate surroundings as humans and show deeper appreciation for languages we cross paths with as tourists.