For some time now, I’ve wanted to create a visual record of life in a big city like Melbourne. My intention has been to capture the shared, everyday experience of moving through the city – an essential and uncelebrated part of contemporary urban life. From walking down crowded streets to riding escalators, waiting on train platforms, or standing at tram stops, we navigate these public spaces in the quiet company of strangers.
Much of the inspiration for this body of work has been my weekly train ride from Melbourne’s inner north where I live, to the city where I teach a painting class. That journey has become more than just a routine – it’s a window into the rhythm and richness of the public realm. Each trip offers a glimpse into a diverse world where everyone is quietly moving through their own story.
I’m especially drawn to those small, unspoken moments of connection – a glance, a shared pause, the way strangers shuffle to make room on a crowded train, or the momentary connection made through shared frustration or delight – a late train, or an overheard joke.
These moments make the city feel deeply human – and endlessly captivating.
Image 1: ‘Platform 4’, Fiona O’Byrne, oil on linen
Image 2: ‘Palmer Street’, Fiona O’Byrne, oil on linen
Image 3: ‘Peak Hour I’, Fiona O’Byrne, oil on linen
Image 4: ‘Flinders Street Night II’, Fiona O’Byrne, oil on linen
Image 5: ‘Napoleon Street’, Fiona O’Byrne, oil on linen
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