Urbex

Human have always been fascinated by the world around them, the most alluring of which are places which have natural beauty, or an interesting story to tell, or those that are simply overwhelmingly large. The essence of this is captured through the practice of urban exploration, or urbex. Urbex as we know it, that being an activity done specifically for the thrill and experience, is quite a recent trend, first being recorded en masse in the early 20th century. 

However, explorers of these abandoned places for the thrill and beauty already existed in 1793, when French explorer Philibert Aspairt became famous for his premature death while exploring the Paris catacombs. On the wall next to his body, the recover team supposedly found the works “I regret nothing” scrawled on the walls. Back in the 1990s, Urbexers began documenting their journey through photographs and written accounts, with their movement gaining momentum over the course of the decade, attracting all types of people, fascinated by the stories and mystery surrounding these derelict places.  

At its core, urbexing is about discovering the beauty in decay, unraveling the stories that buildings whisper, and capturing those moments through writing or a lens. For many people, it has become more than a pastime, with every trip being an adventure which takes us off the beaten path and allows us to discover places where nature is taking back her own. There's something oddly captivating about abandoned places. Whether it's a derelict factory, a crumbling asylum, or an abandoned amusement park, these locations have stories to tell. They are crumbling storybooks that tell of a time long gone, and of people that walked in those very same rooms, all with lives and hopes and dreams of their very own. It holds its own thrill and a feeling of uniqueness that is unattainable in any other activity. 

An important part of urbex is keeping a record of these abandoned places, fixing their mystery and story in time. My personal favorite for that is Urbex photography, the art of capturing the beauty that comes from neglect and decay. The juxtaposition of nature reclaiming her space and the remnant of human existence creates hauntingly beautiful scenes. These unseen scenes that without us would be forgotten, allows one to become modern-day storytellers, freezing moments in time that may soon be lost forever. Peeling paint, rusted machinery, and shattered glass become the subjects of art. Photographers play with light and shadow, showcasing the melancholic allure that occurs when human structure meets neglect and the unstoppable passing of time. These images are not just pictures; they're windows into the past, a reminder that nothing lasts forever. 

While urbexing can make for a thrilling adventure, it comes with responsibilities. If you want to get into urbex, it is crucial to respect the places you explore, never vandalizing or ruining the site for other people, and adhering to local laws. To make sure of this, the urbexers of a certain area form a tight knit community to protect the integrity of urbex, and to educate people who associate the same with destruction and trespassing, painting the individuals who participate in the practice and adrenaline junkies seeking danger. 

Thanks for staying with me,  

Moritz