Introduction
“Someday you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales again.” – C.S. Lewis
This work is a continuation of an earlier self-portrait series by Christopher set in abandoned places. As the artist realized his body was beginning its own timeline of “urban decay,” he decided it was time for his work to evolve. Environmental portraits of children are another area of photography he is passionate about. The inspiration to combine the two fascinating subjects was born from there.
The models in this series are not professionals, however, as much as possible parents are present and the models are compensated for their time. Minimal direction is given to the kids, and often they are left to create their own poses or simply play and explore the locations of the shoots. A good example is the two boys at the abandoned amusement park in Yangon, pushing an old Viking ship back and forth. Their own playfulness resulted in one of his favorite shots of the series.
Youth & Urban Decay is Christopher Ryan’s longest-running series, which started with a shoot in Chiangmai, Thailand in 2016. Since then, he has shot all over Thailand as well as Myanmar, Laos, Indonesia, Colombia, Turkey, and the United States. He expects this project to continue for many years.
Project Statement
Youth & Urban Decay brings together vitality and deterioration — the fleeting nature of childhood set against environments that have been abandoned, weathered, and forgotten. These spaces, layered with history and visual complexity, create a quiet tension when paired with youth.
At its core, the work creates images that are undeniably beautiful, yet slightly outside the expected. Contrast elevates both subject and setting — the presence of youth transforms decay into something of unexpected tenderness rather than desolate emptiness.
The series is rooted in personal memory. As an awkward boy, I often found solace exploring an abandoned junkyard near my home. Those early experiences shaped how I see these environments — not as ruins, but as places of imagination, refuge, and possibility. Photographing young subjects within similar spaces across four continents subtly revisits that formative landscape.
Ultimately, the work reflects a fascination with time — how it reshapes structures, identity, and the emergence of beauty and quiet resilience in forgotten places.