PATIENCE: Timothy Ogu & Friends
PATIENCE: Timothy Ogu & Friends: “A story about love and loss through the people and the places that have shaped me.”
Patience is a conduit between Timothy Ogu and the microcosms that make up his identity. This ongoing photography project serves as a map to understand how the worlds of Nigeria (Kogi State) and England (Wiltshire, Swindon) have clashed to create the visual artist we see today. Patience charts his journey through tender years, adolescence, and fleeting moments back home during his twenties. The project began as an outlet for Timothy in 2024. Earlier that year, Timothy found himself back in Swindon after living in London on and off for 10 years. He moved back to Swindon after finishing his marketing job at Casio in London, and a few months later, he also split up with his long-term partner. A professional creative and photographer in the city, working mainly in music, fashion, and advertising, Timothy wanted to shoot something honest and earnest, distinct from his prior work. Thus, Patience was born.
1. Could you tell us more about the journey of this exhibition?
Patience was born from a place of acceptance. I had moved back to Swindon, my hometown, from London early 2024 and I felt compelled to take photographs of the people and the places around me.
The work I created before I started this always felt like I was trying to fit in with what was going on around me, ‘Who Are Ya?’ was probably one of the few times I really tried to create a piece that embodied who I was. This time around though I just had to take a leap of faith and start shooting images I truly loved and I gave myself the time to let it grow which allowed the project to form in front of me.
2.What were the most important aspects for you for your project?
Honesty. I needed to be honest with myself about where I was physically and mentally. I really feel like we’re living in a moment where there is no time to gloss over things, whether it is war, strife or living conditions. I would like to think that these images not only capture Swindon but also just the feeling of what’s going on generally.
Also shooting in black and white gave me a moment to develop my own images and really learn about that side of photography which I also really enjoyed. It’s great to be learning and gaining another sense of control over the images I take.
3. Visually how was the space set up? And did you have mixed media?
In terms of space set up it was actually done quite quickly with my friend Thomas Donnelly who is a curation wizard. He really helped me to understand what was needed in the space and also helped me to curate my images because I have shot over 400 images for the project thus far. He helped me to curate a story through all the images I had taken and then once we got into the space it was really just making sure everything was straight and put in a way that it flowed as you moved through the room.
In terms of mixed media, I did not, I just stuck to photos to make sure I didn’t give myself too much work to do before the exhibition. I do want to shoot a film though, that is something I am planning in the background.
4. How were you able to choose what pieces would be part of the exhibition?
Shoutout Tom again on this one, I actually sent him around 60 images, he cut them down to 30 and then we literally were in college together (he’s the technician at the College I currently work at) and I literally was like ‘this one, not that one’ in a space of 10 minutes. I see this exhibition as the beginning not the end so for me it was really about choosing images that felt right to show as an entry point to the journey, in time more will be taken and more will be released so this is really an appetiser for what is to come.
5. Were there any hurdles with this project and how did you overcome them?
There were definitely hurdles. The biggest one was space. The original building I originally wanted to use was great initially but as I began to plan where things would go in the space it started to not make as much sense as when I started. I learnt at this stage the importance of pivoting and faith because I still had the vision and I just needed to find the place to bring it to life.
Thankfully though, through conversation, just talking with friends who really had my back, things started to shift. One conversation led to another, and that’s how I got connected with the team at Darkroom. From there, everything started to fall into place.
It was a real reminder that community matters. Sometimes the thing you need is sitting in someone else's phonebook.
6. I can see from the title PATIENCE: Timothy Ogu & Friends you had collaborators? Can you tell us a little more about the collaborators of the exhibition? And your choice behind why they felt right for this project?
Yes, so the collaborators were Cyril Rodriguez in terms of graphic design / photography and then Paul Carroll who kept the tempo in the right space throughout the night. Cyril has been my brother from day one, we went to college in Swindon together and he has been my go-to guy when it comes to anything graphic design or typography. Once I knew the space was locked in I really wanted him to be a part of this project and have something to show because I wouldn’t have got to this point without him.
For Paul, he was the guy that really put the battery in my back last year, we were on holiday for a mutual friends wedding and I said to him that had been wanting to do an event in Swindon for a long time and he said ‘why don’t you and just call Timothy Ogu and Friends?’ From the moment he said that, it clicked. We did an event last year and then I wanted to do one with the photography I had been shooting for Patience he was down from the moment I told him.
7. I believe from the social media posts I could see you on the decks! Did you curate a specific playlist for the event? If so what types of artist did you include in the mix
Yes yes! I thought I would warm up the set for Paul which was fun but also tough considering everyone was coming in and saying hi while I was mixing haha! I have kept a playlist of songs on my USB that range from Kaytranada and Sango, to 808ink, Knucks and Oscar #WorldPeace. so I wouldn’t say it’s necessarily curated for the night itself but I have a selection there that represents what I am interested in.
8. If you could give advice to anyone who was putting on their own exhibition for the first time what advice would you give?
Take your time. That’s the first thing I’d say. Don't rush the process just because you feel like you should be somewhere already. Let the work speak to you before you try to speak for it. I think sometimes we get caught up in the performance of putting something out into the world, but the truth is if it doesn't feel like you, its going to feel empty. So be honest. Be mad honest, with yourself and with the work.
You don't have to have the cleanest space or the flashiest set-up. What matters most is intention. Why did you make this? What does it mean to you before anyone else walks in and tries to make sense of it? Hold onto that. Because on the day, when people are asking questions or maybe not saying anything at all, you'll need to remember why you started.
Also, find your people. Find a Tom that can look at 400 images and help you see a story. Or a Cyril who can come and help you create something bespoke for the night and add a little bit of sauce. The people around you can make the whole thing feel less like a task and more like a moment.
In short, take your time, trust your gut, be honest, and don't do it alone. The rest will come.
9. If you had the opportunity to collaborate with anyone on a project who would it be? This can be from any creative background.
Kahlil Joseph is definitely up there. The guys a genius – he just gets it. The way he brings sound and image together is unreal. I remember seeing The Infinite Mix back in 2016 and honestly, I was in awe. It wasn’t just an exhibition, it was an experience. Like, you walked in and felt it in your chest, in your gut, everywhere.
Music artist wise, I have said this before but Kojey Radical for sure. He is someone who always moves with intention when it comes to the art he creates so it would be amazing to make that happen.
Chy Cartier as well. It would just be crazy to create work with her because I feel like the contrast would be mad but the product would be great.
10. What are your future project plans?
There’s nothing set in stone right now. I’m really just letting the work lead the way. I’ve got a few ideas brewing. I would love to create a film and a few other physical directions I could explore, but I’m not trying to force anything. What I do know is that I’ll definitely keep taking photos of Swindon and the people, the places, the little moments that make this town feel like home.
There’s so much here that deserves to be seen. So watch this space.
Timothy will continue shooting for Patience this year after the exhibition and is eager to pick up the camera again to document more people and places that have shaped him.
