Director Renee Maria Osubu Pays Homage to North Philadelphia In a New Exhibition

We caught up with British-Nigerian photographer and director Renee Maria Osubu to dive into her debut solo exhibition, Dear Philadelphia – an ongoing love letter to the North Philadelphian community.

Born and raised in London to Nigerian immigrants, Osubu has always been deeply connected to her roots, with her faith and family anchoring her creative journey. Osubu's work focuses on identity, race, community and childhood. Nine years ago, she first visited Philadelphia to volunteer with a children's summer programme, and her connection to the community blossomed. Documenting her trips, she worked on creating a homage to North Philadelphia, highlighting the tenderness and familial ties within its Black community. She honed in on one subject in particular: fatherhood. This series evolved into the Oscar and Bafta-qualifying short film Dear Philadelphia, which premiered at Sundance in 2021 and won the accolade for Best Short Documentary at Blackstar Film Festival.

Since, Osubu has been making waves across London's creative scene. Last year saw her shoot three music videos for southeast London rapper Jords. Her work for his latest album, Dirt in the Diamond was stitched together into a powerful short film that premiered internationally at Tribeca Film Festival and won her the Young Director Award at Cannes 2023.

Below, we catch up with Osubu to talk the inspiration behind Dear Philadelphia, how travel has inspired her practice and what the significance of love and forgiveness in her work.

What was the inspiration behind Dear Philadelphia?

My inspiration for Dear Philadelphia originally derived from the young kids I met around 9 years ago. I was volunteering at a summer camp in Pennsylvania and took part in a mentor program. I had the opportunity to mentor a young girl and after that kept returning to continue the friendships fostered with the kids. As I began spending time in Philadelphia I was inspired by the families I was meeting. The beauty and strength I was seeing within the city was also inspiring my perspective as a person who at the time was grappling with grief. Philadelphia, especially North Philadelphia where I spend a lot of my time, is no stranger to grief. So to be in a place that conveyed the honest duality of grief and joy ignited my desire to document and archive stories within the city.

Why did you choose to focus on the angle of fatherhood?

A few years prior to making my film, that I'd lost my dad to cancer so I was really interested in how, Black fathers especially, are perceived and shown in the media. As I’d lost him to a brain tumor, I became specifically interested in the idea of people losing their memory because that's one of the results of having a brain tumor – you begin to forget things and by the end of it, you're not able to communicate.

How would you describe your aesthetic?

I would describe my aesthetic as intimate. My process allows for an intimacy between myself and the person being photographed because we get the time to know each other. There is definitely a tenderness to my aesthetic as well. My process and the people I photograph are not often what comes to mind when you consider the word tender. But I think that’s what I appreciate about the chance to get to know people. To have moments of stillness that convey another part of who someone is. From dirt bike riders to concrete cowboys there is definitely a fast pace of adrenaline to the environments I find myself in which I love, but the ability to find those closer vulnerable moments has always been part of my aesthetic. You can also see that within my film Dear Philadelphia. The choice of jazz music to even choose slow motion chooses to step in closer and draw into the person and who they are.

Why did you decide to shoot in black and white?

I’ve always been drawn to black and white photography and films. When I consider the people and stories I document, I think the timeless and classic feel I get from black and white imagery perfectly resonated in how I’d been seeing this city all these years.

Was there a standout piece from the collection for you and if there was what’s the story behind it?

My first would be this image here of Wardy. In 2019 I stumbled across the most beautiful street of these kids playing in a pool beneath their local fire hydrant. Mums were chatting on their stoops and the sun was blazing down. Not to soon after on the corner of the street I met Wardy and took this image. He’s now passed away so this image has even more value to me then even before. You don’t realise that sometimes you are truly archiving a moment that will sometimes next come again.

My next standout image of the show would be this one below. My process of taking images is going on walks and allowing for the opportunity to connect with people I come across. I met these cousins all hanging outside their house with their family. We
spent so much time together and played with the cameras I had on me at the time. These interactions are always what reminds me why I love to do what i do. This composition beautifully came about itself. During the opening week of my exhibition this was the image that people constantly shared looked and felt like Philadelphia through and through.

Lastly, a standout piece has been the sound installation. An ensemble of voices recorded over many years all discussing the meaning of love and forgiveness in North Philadelphia. A piece that calls you to reflect, consider and often always laugh. The sound installation was created with producer Kwaku Konadu and the moving images that assist it were edited by Simon Klinklertz.

Can you describe Philadelphia to someone who's never been? What is the culture and local scene like in Philadelphia?

It's so rich in culture and history. The musicians and artists that come from that city are a testament to that. From some of my favourite live jazz nights to block parties Philadelphia is a truly memorable place. It’s both perfectly unapologetic and unforgettable. It’s definitely a place about relationships and the time you spend with people. Certain parts of Philly have been severely impacted by the lack of investment into the well being of the community and especially young people. Despite this, the city remains a true gem and definitely my home away from home.

How would you say travel has influenced your practice?

Travelling informs my work by reminding me about the importance of spreading love and joy. I’ve had such special encounters with people and being able to capture that is such an honour. I’ve also met many people at their lowest points, and being able to create work that allows people to see themselves in their strength and beauty is important to me. To remind people that their stories are worthy of being heard, and meaningful to many.