Taylor Qi finds beauty in ruin
Staff Writer
There are only so many trips a person can take to Pacific Commons or the Great Mall until both begin to feel ordinary. In Fremont, especially, the suburb is able to capture neither bustling city life nor the comforting familiarity of the small town, but Taylor Qi (10) finds the beauty in the Bay Area through urban exploration.
Urban exploration is the exploration of man-made structures, typically those people don’t often seek out; think abandoned churches or tunnels. Most commonly, these were once popular urban areas that lie in ruins today. Even so, Qi believes the jilted vacancy to be its unique strength. “When I go there, it just looks so amazing,” Qi said. “These places have a lot of history, so being there, being in the ruins, it feels rewarding to be not only a part of that history, but just to take it in. I feel so cool out there.”
The hobby also became a way to escape for a moment and learn about the world beyond the city. “I used to never go out, but I saw a lot of pictures of these places online, and I thought, ‘Oh, it looks nice to be in.’ I really wanted to be part of that space, so I started researching online.”
One of the places she visited was Pier 90 in San Francisco with AHS alum Joshua Suvante (Class of 2024). “We did a thing called urbex,” he said. “The main one was this pier, one with an abandoned grain silo on it. It’s been explored by people for years, but it’s crazy to see how urban areas have been left behind and turned into escapes and explorations for people who live in the area.”
Qi also shared, “Another time, there was this church, and I think that was the best spot I’ve ever been to. It was completely untouched. Everything was still in place. It was so beautiful. I remember sculptures and woodwork, and it was unbelievable.”
Qi went on to say, “I always do as much research as I can before I go, but a lot of the community gatekeeps every single location. It’s a lot of hunting on your own. Also, I feel like for me, as a person, I don’t get really scared. I generally feel like being able to experience and learn how to use public transportation is a skill you need for the future—it’s all like practicing being able to navigate myself, you know?”
The unpredictability of urbex necessitates preparation. “I think just stay where you’re supposed to be and always go with someone if you’re going out of the city,” she said. “You should probably also bring water, food, Band-Aids, masks, flashlights, and gloves though.”
The art of exploration and the art that Qi stumbles upon are the most rewarding aspect of the hobby. “There’s a lot of amazing art, and it influences my own perception of it. There is beauty in destruction and decay. I think it’s the fact that no one wants to see it that makes it so exciting and exclusive for the people that do. There’s always going to be some kind of graffiti. It makes you look for the art which is hidden, what people need to find themselves, and what people leave for others.”
Qi wanders somewhere in Berkeley. “There is beauty in destruction and decay. I think it’s the fact that no one wants to see it that makes it so exciting and exclusive for the people that do (Photo Credit: Taylor Qi (10)).
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