“The quintessential trait of the mundane is, of course, its lack of spectacle. It is recognizable to us; familiar, in its plainness and with its non-event character.”

The series “Diamond Days” is an exploration of the commonplace. We are shown snippets of every day, fragments of moments and ordinary situations. There is a playful touch to this world, a colorful lightness, and warmth, a sense of joy; and yet, these unassuming landscapes seem to contain something else. Elusive. Layered. Ambiguous. A somewhat bleaker undercurrent that might pick up on the sensation of slight unease that we often associate with the ordinary.

By carrying signs of human behavior and a way of living, every day provides us with a rendering of the now. But it also contains references to a time gone by and challenges us to look back. It exposes our need to make sense of our lives and raises the tricky question of “what could have been.” It confronts us with the notion of missed opportunities and unfulfilled dreams. And it reveals our disposition to fill any void with nostalgia.”

Manuel Armenis is a street and fine art photographer working on long-term projects with a focus on exploring the human condition within the everyday and commonplace urban environments. Discover Manuel’s work here.