Portsmouth's Cascades Shopping Centre exhibition of Pompey Heroes Project on display virtually as Milton photographer aims to honour key workers

Incredible support for Milton resident Femi Olaiya’s crowdfunding campaign has led to 33 of his images being on display in Cascades Shopping Centre.

His work, known as the Pompey Heroes Project, shows essential workers from a variety of industries including bus drivers, firefighters, teachers and medical staff.

Nigerian-born Femi, who has lived in Portsmouth for 12 years, also wanted to show the ethnic, cultural and religious diversity of the city.

More than £2,000 was donated to a campaign to display these powerful images in an empty shop unit, and city-based Fastsigns produced and installed a series of prints of Femi’s stunning images.

Femi said: ‘I am blown away by the amount of support I got from my supporters and corporate organisations that supported the project.

‘I would like to thank the Portsmouth Partnership Foundation, Shaping Portsmouth, Stagecoach and all the individuals that gave their time and money to ensure the project succeeded.

‘This has encouraged me to take my photography to a whole new level.’

The exhibition is available virtually until March 28, meaning people can take a look at each piece of work while unable to see them in person at the shopping centre.

Most of the images on display include comments in the top left corner from the key worker depicted, about how they feel to be doing their jobs through the pandemic.

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For example, pastor Ayo Fatunwase said: ‘I consider it a great privilege to be able to offer spiritual, emotional and material support to people in these unprecedented times.’

A wide range of professions has been celebrated through this project, to show how many people have kept the city moving through the pandemic.

Bus engineer Darren Ramsden, one of the people photographed, said: ‘We’ve been working harder than ever and it is difficult with social distancing in place in the garage, but we’ve all been there supporting each other through this time.’

Teachers were another of the groups Femi captured as part of the project.

School teacher Starlene George said: ‘Seeing the children adapt so well to the changes quickly put worries at bay and made the experience instantly more positive and enjoyable.’

Visit artspaces.kunstmatrix.com/en/exhibition/4561189/pompey-heroes-project to take a tour.

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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