By
Vera Xia

The School of Architecture, Design and Planning, University of Sydney, Australia

The public realm encompasses spaces that are accessible to the public and can take various forms.
It often interfaces with, or coexists alongside, buildings and other covered structures in cities.

Walking uphill to the Great Hall of the People (Chongqing, China, 2024)

Walyalup Koort interfacing with Walyalup Civic Centre (Fremantle, Australia, 2022)

Colonnades mediating the public-private realms (Cambridge, UK, 2018)

This photographic essay delves into the intricate dynamics within our public realm and explores the multifaceted nature of contemporary public spaces through the lens of co-existence. Through five sets of photographs that I took while travelling in Australia, the UK and China between 2018 and 2024, this essay captures the various forms of urban coexistence and explores whether, beyond their surface proximity, there lies a deeper narrative of interaction, interrelation, and transformation. It explores themes ranging from co-existence with anonymity to encounters, solitude, and co-existence without presence. The collection invites viewers to reconsider how we co-exist together, encouraging reflection on both the visible connections and the hidden tensions that define contemporary urban life. It prompts questions about the dynamic roles played by entities—both living and inanimate—in co-existing in and shaping the public realm.

Co-existence with Solitude

Waiting at The Meeting Space in Rhodes (Rhodes, Australia 2024)

Enjoying solo phone time in Brighton West Pier (Brighton, UK 2018)

Cycling through a park (Sydney Olympic Park, Australia 2024)

Quiet lunch break in Waverly Park (Bondi, Australia 2022)

Co-existence with anonymity

Anonymity among the moving people (Sydney, Australia, 2020)

Three school children walking past a pensive adult (Sydney, Australia, 2024)

Someone walking down The Steps (Sydney, Australia, 2022)

Outside Brighton Railway Station (Brighton, UK, 2018)

Looking into the public realm through the National Gallery of Victoria’s Water Wall (Melbourne, Australia, 2022)

Co-existence with encounters

Palm tree leaves crossing each other (Ku-ring-gai National Park, Australia 2020)

People and a dog darting across the street (Parramatta, Australia 2018)

Rushing from work across the Barangaroo pedestrian bridge at sunset (Sydney, Australia 2018)

Inside the light rail, a dense crowd surges together; outside, a runner glides in the open evening light (Sydney, Australia 2024)

Cooling off beneath an old tree in People's Plaza on a scorching 40-degree summer day. (Chongqing, China 2024)

Co-existence with virtual presence

Traditionally recognised as places for social interaction and community, the public realm has evolved with the integration of technologies. Beyond human presence, technologies like CCTV cameras, digital devices, and live streaming have reshaped public participation and perception. This transformation expands public life beyond physical boundaries, bridging virtual and physical spaces. Those who seem to be alone in physical spaces might have virtual companions.