A few words about the genres that are closest to me. Like many people, I have always been drawn to travel.

The chance to see the world and experience the life around you is one of life’s great joys. When I visit different countries and cities, I am fascinated by the rhythm of life in both vast metropolitan centers and small villages, each with its own habits, weather, character, and way of being. Naturally, I want to preserve the impressions I receive not only in memory, but also to share them with others. As an artist, my most natural way of communicating these impressions is through painting.

In my paintings, I try to avoid clichéd postcard views. What matters most to me is conveying the spirit and atmosphere of a city or town without relying too heavily on recognizable landmarks, although of course they are often impossible to avoid. My aim is to suggest the smells, sounds, warmth or coolness of urban walls, the freshness of the air after rain, the glimmer of night lights — all the impressions that remain in the soul and return to us as vivid memories.

This is a difficult task, especially in visual art. It is hard to imagine how one could convey the flavor of wine tasted in a local hideaway, or the taste of an unfamiliar dish. But it is possible to awaken in viewers emotions similar to my own when I first witnessed that beauty. If they have been to that place, they may remember their own sensations; if not, they may imagine or dream of it. And even if the image differs slightly from reality, I hope the difference is not essential. In short, the deeper you enter the cityscape genre, the wider the horizons become.

The best confirmation that I have succeeded in this genre came from one viewer, who said: “It feels as if you were walking with us through the cities you painted.”