As the winner of the Verant Richards Award, Bidemi Oloyede explores the format of Platinum-Palladium in a contemporary context to present images from his street photography archive. The artist combines his passion for the historical medium of photography with his interest in the human condition. Oloyede explores the concept of “archival permanence” with prints known to outlast even the printer.
Oloyede’s choice to present Toronto street scenes in this format ensures that his contemporary street scenes are preserved for generations to come in a so-called “permanent archive”. Oloyede describes the impetus for his project, "So much of black photographic history is lost. Informed by the mediums and methods of care [he] chooses in his process, [he] wants to continue the tradition of making photographs that last."
Listen to an interview with the artist and Curator Lillian O'Brien Davis here.
Bidemi Oloyede is an emerging street and portrait documentary photographer born in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. Now living and working in Toronto, Canada, he uses black and white film to capture both vulnerable and vibrant images that tell a story about his subjects and community. He combines his passion for the historical medium of photography with his interest in the human condition.