Paris versus New York - in graphic form

Vahram Muratyan says: "It all started when I wondered, if I was stranded on a desert island, what aspects of Paris and New York would I keep? What would be the perfect collection of things? They could be habits, or landmarks or food, anything that would bring the two cultures together in one image." Photograph: Vahram Muratyan

"I love the colour of Grand Central station's roof. So it was important to put it alongside the Grand Palais, to show the most fascinating ceilings in the two cities." Photograph: Vahram Muratyan

"The streets are all parallel in New York. When I was a teenager, visiting the city, I was struck by how easy and efficient the system was. Drawing the streets was a way of drawing the state of mind of the people living there." Photograph: Vahram Muratyan

"New Yorkers are obsessed with going to Paris, Parisians dream of going to New York, so this was my way of showing that it works both ways. Amélie’s father’s gnome visits New York, and at the end of Sex and the City, Carrie goes to Paris." Photograph: Vahram Muratyan

"These two presidents lent their names to airports and are now reduced to three letters, CDG and JFK. But ithe image is also about the poetry of watching planes draw lines in the sky, showing where they have been." Photograph: Vahram Muratyan

"The cupcake and macaroon reference fashions in food. They contrast with the classics, like pastrami and patisserie." Photograph: Vahram Muratyan

"There's an element of storytelling to this image. I imagined the Mad Men could have visited Paris, where they would seduce the Parisiennes." Photograph: Vahram Muratyan

"A lot of the cars in New York are really big; a cross between an SUV and a limousine… in Paris they would never be able to turn around! We have the 2CV Citroën. It’s a bit cheesy but it’s a symbol of the city." Photograph: Vahram Muratyan

"Depardieu and De Niro both started in the same movie, 1900, and appeared in films about transport around the same time. So it was all about the links between the two iconic, charismatic actors." Photograph: Vahram Muratyan