Skateistan and The Impossible Project release limited edition Polaroid film
- Text by Alex Taylor
Skateistan and The Impossible Project have dropped their new joint project this week releasing a limited edition film for Polaroid 600-type cameras.
The film gives the photographer a geometric, Afghan textile-inspired design at the bottom of each polaroid. A percentage of each pack sold goes directly to helping Skateistan’s philanthropic projects in Afghanistan, Cambodia and their latest venture in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Skateistan are an NGO who, through working with vulnerable five to 18-year-olds across the world, are committed to creating opportunities and change through education and skating. Every week, they work with more than 1,200 children from disadvantaged backgrounds get an education that would be impossible otherwise.
The Impossible Project CEO Oskar Smolokowski, 26, said: “It’s always great to see that kind of stuff, and to see the results and the kids making some difference, however small, it’s making.”
Currently, Impossible are the only company in the world making “instant film for classic Polaroid cameras” after purchasing the last Polaroid producing company in 2008.
Their hook up with Skateistan started last year when, as Smolokowski said: “We love what they’re doing and we reached out. We figured out our first project to work together on, and that was last year. We basically donated a bunch of film and cameras and sent them over to one of those locations in Afghanistan. They did a media-based project with the kids which was a journalism project.”
He went on to praise the work done by Oliver Percovich and the team over at Skateistan saying: “If you’re out there and all you see is bad stuff around you don’t really have a reason to turn out to be a good person. Even though they aren’t directly teaching people math, they’re actually getting the kids to believe that there’s some good and some fun. The more opportunities that come to them, and there aren’t many, the better it is.”
Percovich, 40, has been heading up the Skateistan for nearly eight years now and said that he’s excited to be reaching a larger audience than ever with this new project. He said: “I think it’s a really great way to reach a new audience with Impossible and use polaroid cameras which are a huge market globally. People that probably hadn’t seen us before will be exposed to Skateistan, so that’s really cool.”
The limited edition film is out now and you buy it here or donate straight or Skateistan.
You might like
Vintage photos of London street life at the turn of the millennium
London 1995-2005 — In her new photobook, Joan Piekny reflects on a decade shooting the styles and subcultures of the UK capital’s streets, just before technology .
Written by: Miss Rosen
Princess Julia: “I always state my age as I can’t believe I’m still around”
First lady — As the latest Artist-In-Residence of Huck 83, the London nightlife legend speaks to Josh Jones and provides a few recommendations and words of wisdom.
Written by: Josh Jones
A luminous portrait of Black life over six decades
Shared Memories — As staff photographer for The New York Times, Chester Higgins captured Black culture and spiritual connection like no other. A new exhibition celebrates his life and impact.
Written by: Miss Rosen
An intimate window into New York’s ’70s lesbian scene
We Others — An exhibition at The Photographer’s Gallery combines Donna Gottschalk’s unearthed photographs of LGBTQ+ activists and friends, along with Hélène Gianneccini’s written histories.
Written by: Miss Rosen
A tender portrait of life and ritual from Mexico City’s streets
Órale — For the last six years of his life, photographer, collector and designer Michel Hurst documented death rituals, street life and religious pageantry in contemporary Mexico. A new monograph showcases his work.
Written by: Roxana Diba
In photos: Washington DC’s Black communities facing up to gentrification
A Language We Share — A new exhibition featuring the work of Beverly Price and Gordon Parks preserves historically Black neighbourhoods in the USA, before development and economic forces made them disappear.
Written by: Miss Rosen
