This painting is part of my landscape series, created during the time of COVID-19 restrictions. When movement was limited and travel was impossible, I explored neighbourhoods through Google Maps, collecting five to ten images to form the basis of each work. The process became a way to journey without leaving home, and to reflect on the strange mixture of closeness and distance that shaped daily life at the time.
In this work, the suburban street is simplified into bold blocks of colour and outlined forms which influenced from stained-glass. The orange sky and red road set a vibrant stage, while houses and trees stand quietly across from one another. Though the street is empty of people, there is a strong sense of presence—of lives just beyond view. The stop sign at the centre becomes a symbol of pause, reminding us of the restrictions, yet also of the possibility of stillness and reflection.
Philosophically, the painting suggests that connection does not disappear even when physical contact is limited. The houses, like people, remain close yet apart, bound by invisible ties. The work captures both longing and hope, reminding viewers that human connection endures, even in separation, and that moments of distance can deepen our sense of togetherness.