Archival Recordings is a photography project by 2022 LAPL Creator in Residence Kwasi Boyd-Bouldin (also know as Nonstndrd Creative).

Archival Recordings Newsletter

About the Photographer
When Kwasi was 2 years of age his family moved from Brooklyn to Los Angeles by train, arriving at Union Station in 1980. Growing up in the Hollywood, Mid-City, and Koreatown areas of the city during the nineties sparked an interest in the visual arts at a young age. The death of his father at the age of 19 resulted in him receiving his first real camera, which was a turning point for his trajectory as a creative.

Documenting neighborhoods in Los Angeles is the core of his photographic practice. In 2017 Kwasi was included on Time Magazine’s list of 12 African American Photographers to Follow, was the lead photographer for the Netflix animation series “City of Ghosts”, and is one of 2 inaugural 2022 Creators in Residence for the Los Angeles Public Library.

The mission is to document the evolving urban landscape of Los Angeles and create a lasting photographic archive of digital and physical artifacts that authentically record life in the city from ground level. This is accomplished in two ways; the publishing of a subscription based newsletter that explores specific changes to neighborhoods over time and the publishing of printed photography zines. 

Photoessays

Los Angeles, Real America Series

Los Angeles is one of the largest cities in the nation and has an even larger influence on mainstream culture in this country. This has been the case for decades and there is no legitimate reason why it should not be considered a part of the quintessential American experience. 

The concept of what is and isn't “Real America” delegitimatizes the lived experiences of millions of people in the United States, disproportionately ceding power to cities and states that are both less populous and less diverse.

The Black Space Project

Rarely, if ever, do people recognize South Los Angeles, CA, especially Central Avenue, as the "Harlem of the West." Yet, during the 20th Century, African Americans migrated to partake in the city's Black renaissance, similar to Harlem's through the 1920s and 30s during the Great Depression.

In recent decades there has been a massive shift in the demographics of Los Angeles. Many African Americans have moved out of the city leaving the traditionally Black areas they established behind. This project aims to provide a historic context to the spaces that remain as they exist today.

Contemporary Dystopia

This set of photographs is a selection of work from the first year of Archival Recordings. They are a reflection of the clearly visible decline underway in Los Angeles, fueled by an out of control housing market and an increase in economic disparity at all levels. It also serves as a backdrop to the impending race to prepare the city for the 2028 Olympic games.