When looking at some of the wall murals I discovered, you can see the high level of craftsmanship. They look amazing and very detailed, even in this state of decay of the abandoned places. In the next years that I’ll be visiting Italy, I’ll make sure to continue photographing the unique artworks I find in abandoned buildings.

Abandoned places fascinate me because of all the unanswered questions and the mystery they hold. There is beauty in things that are forgotten, and taking a closer look can be an incredible way to get to learn more about the world around us and how things change with time as history unfolds.

Today, abandoned places all over the world offer a unique glimpse into the past. A source of reflection, perhaps, as they prompt us to think about the future. If, for example, a church, house, or hospital, once an important haven in a community or family, can become a pile of ruins, what does that say about what we hold certain today? These are the traces of the past, and if we follow them, we can see where we all came from and perhaps where we’re going.

At the moment, I am working with my business partner Sven van der Wal on a project called Boys with Drones. We’re traveling the world to capture abandoned places with a drone, creating aerial videos and photographs. I am now also in the process of planning to spend 2 months on the island of Bali, to capture and write about the abandoned places on the island. That project will most likely take place in the fourth quarter of this year.