ARTIST STATEMENT
Back in Time
Montreal takes me back to 2012. I was 23, curious, and hungry, and I had gotten a rare opportunity to spend three months in Paris. It was the first time I ever set foot outside my beloved home country; Nigeria.
It was a trip of many “firsts,” but more significantly, it was a catalyst for the growth I’ve undergone over the last few years, as it birthed my insatiable quest to explore cultures and different cities in the world.
Montreal reminds me of Paris in many ways, yet it has its unique characters – the subway without the pungent smell of urine, the streets built with paving stones without the litter, the romantic appeal without the crowd or Eiffel Tower night lights to look forward to, the streets that speak history but without the music.
At the beginning of this year, through a playful experiment with color composition, I was able to manipulate images to produce a kind of saturation that doesn’t scream saturation. A delicate blend of blue/teal with an appealing pop of orange and this has helped my work gain some consistency and uniqueness. This color blend is a base flavor for the images in this collection.
Why did I invite you here?
Think about how digital platforms flood you with so many images that giving you only a few seconds to view the image, establish your impression of the image and observe the emotions that the images provoke. It happens too quickly to be substantial, and this is why I am happy to bring you into a physical space today to see how you see, feel, and to answer questions you might hesitate to ask online.
Take some time to read the captions as I share details about the thoughts on my mind before the shutter was clicked, pay attention to the colors, and do share your overall thoughts before you leave.
Welcome to my showcase of “Back in Time”
I hope this showcase inspires you to plan a trip to Montreal to immerse yourself in what Montreal has to offer. And if you’ve been to Montreal before, I hope this showcase reveals you a different perspective of places you’re familiar with and that inspires you to revisit Montreal soon.
Tolu Akanni