José De Rocco's 'Bondi' Series Transforms Buenos Aires Buses into Abstract Photography

Buenos Aires-based photographer José De Rocco has gained attention for his 'bondi' series, which transforms the backs of city buses into abstract compositions. De Rocco, who began his conscious photographic practice around 2007 after being inspired by friend Diego Medina, captures tightly cropped images of Buenos Aires buses, locally called 'bondis.' He then digitally removes all advertisements, signage, and markings to reveal the underlying geometric designs and color patterns. The resulting images function both as recognizable urban artifacts and as standalone abstract studies. De Rocco describes maintaining a 'tourist's sense of wonder' despite living in Buenos Aires for 23 years, originally hailing from Pinamar. His daily photographic practice involves carrying a camera everywhere, accumulating material that generates thematic projects. The 'bondi' series emerged from an interest in geometry and color, initially inspired by the clean design of a school bus. After posting the work on Instagram last year, it received unexpected positive response, potentially leading to a photo book publication. De Rocco's approach to photography was shaped by studying and attempting to replicate masters, a method he observed art students using with painters like Velázquez and Rembrandt. He emphasizes that location matters less than approach, citing Lee Friedlander's 'Stems' series created during convalescence. The buses hold emotional and social significance as fixtures of daily life for working people in Buenos Aires, with each line featuring distinct designs.