4pm – 6pm

The Pompey Heroes is a project by Portsmouth-based photographer Olufemi Olaiya, which honours the brave key workers who volunteered and worked tirelessly at the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic to improve the lives of the people of Portsmouth.

Our lives have changed significantly since the Covid-19 outbreak and these pictures put a face to the efforts of those heroes, and show the ethnic, cultural and religious diversity of our city. The sitters included are uniform services, teachers, bus drivers, engineers, pharmacists and many more. Throughout the last 18 months Olufemi has created these amazing portraits, which have been displayed at key locations around Portsmouth including Palmerston road, Commercial Road, Cascades Shopping Centre and Fratton Road.

For this special We Shine event at Aspex Portsmouth, Olufemi will present the full series of portraits as a digital projection; shining a light on the incredible key workers one more time and radiating the belief that together we can create a better future for humanity.

This event will take place in the Learning Space at Aspex Portsmouth. Please book in advance to attend by visiting Aspex’ website aspex.org.uk There may also be places available on the day.

Aspex kindly requests all our visitors to continue to social distance and wear a face covering when moving around our public spaces, unless previously exempt.

Port Coffee will be selling alcohol and soft drinks throughout the evening.

Images: The Portsmouth Heroes Project, 2021, Olufemi Olaiya. Images courtesy the artist.

Artist Bio:

Olufemi David Olaiya is a Nigerian born, UK based photographer specialising in portrait, fashion and architecture photography. His work captures people, buildings and spaces to reflect what exists and what is created through the synergy and symbiotic relation different entities share. In his photographs Olufemi captures the essence of his subjects in a profound manner that forms the basis for wider dialogue about the world we live in.