The Guardians
Artist in Resident: Vladimir Antaki
Meet our 2016 Artist-in-Residence – Photographer & Story Teller, Vladimir Antaki (@artisticagitators). Vladimir’s award-winning photo series ‘The Guardians’ sourced from his many travels, continues here in The City of Brotherly Love.
The Guardians was born out of Vlad's desire to document and pay tribute to the guardians of urban temples we encounter on a daily basis without really noticing. He defines these 'urban temples' as a store, artisanal shop or workshop where a human being puts his heart and passion in what he does. The Guardians bear and safeguard tradition, the know-how, and memory of their temples. They represent the antithesis of supermarkets, shopping centers, and the big chains.
"People pay less and less attention to their environment. They are always in a hurry, they don't take the time to spend time with one another. Unfortunately, these places will one day no longer be around."
— Vladmir Antaki
Antaki wanders through a city, entering places that call to him, warmly introducing himself to the people that work there. He takes the Guardian's photo within moments of meeting them so the viewer can experience that feeling of inquisitiveness when meeting someone for the first time.
His photos capture through portraiture a moment that encapsulates their dedication. Which, I think, accounts for why the Guardians agree to let him record their origin stories within minutes of him coming from behind the lens.
For Vlad's residency, we installed life-sized photographs of past Guardians in vacant storefronts along South Street. Guylaine, a shopkeeper from Montreal found a home at 521 South 4th St. Abraham from Beirut is parked at 504 South St. and Manuel Paul from Montreal is keeping shop at corner of 6th & South.
After the installs were complete we hosted an Artist Talk at Paradigm Gallery, so the community could hear the stories behind the photographs.
Along the way, Vlad found a few Philadelphia Guardians. Adding yet another city to the long list of places sourced for his photo series. Which means some familiar faces, dear to us will find their stories traveling to other cities.
