KANTA Portraits: Presentation

2018-10-24

Presentation– COAC & JOAS

Had a small presentation to NGOs (COAC & JOAS). For the first time in Malaysia, explaining the deeper meaning and pursuit of the project. Screened the short film essay "Lakec" by Posak, and pictures of the exhibition installation, portraits done in collaboration in Taiwan. Mention of the relationship on matters of identity- oral tradition, & collective memory, cultural mapping, geospatial context of native language etc. Thank you for hosting and the support #COAC

My exhibit items in a box, just arrived from Taipei yesterday. Prints and found objects. Just in time for the presentation & screening in the evening.

Screening the Essay film "Lakec"

one of the installations

exhibit items arrived

COAC, important resource center in the region

library

artefacts

markings- patterns

Jeffrey JC Lim

Jeffrey Lim’s exploration into photography started with the family’s point & shoot film-camera and the stories behind their black & white photographs. It was later in art school that he discovered the magic of the darkroom and explored deeper into the craft of image-making & printing.

He started experimenting with self-made box cameras utilising pinhole and lenses, and also explored using century-old box cameras, crossing between different mediums and methods to producing an image. At the same time, he started researching his family’s roots through interviews and photographs.

After watching the Afghan Box Camera Project video in 2011, he was inspired to design and build variants of the Kamra. Starting the project Kanta Box Kamra, he built the first four prototypes. He then developed new techniques in reproduction & printing after visiting the exhibition Retrato Popular, Sesc Belenzinho, and studying the Lambe-Lambe cameras of Brasil, he built several other prototypes.

In 2017, he started Kanta Portraits to explore the concepts of identity and the national-construct. Travelling to different parts of the region and many different indigenous communities, he recorded their narratives and in return, gave instant portraits. He is currently archiving the portraits and reflecting on the journey in the hopes of producing an exhibition and publication.

Pages

2018-10-24

Presentation– COAC & JOAS