My time is not your time

My Time is not your time,

a lens - based art exhibition by Prapon Joe Kumjim

Project 304, Bangkok, August - September, 1999

Artist's comment:

The term Lens - based in this sense implies a working process that has involved a direct or indirect use the lenses. Lomographs, photograph, film/video, epidiascope (Opaque projection) and photocopiers are all used as tools to interlock my working process behind this exhibition. To be pedantic - everything that we can see with our eyes (through the retinas) is lens - based. Our own eyes are a pair of lenses.

As part of a generation raised with the television as a babysitter - I am no longer convinced by super clear photographs and slick movies that have consistently bombarded me. Advertising photography always seem to be far better than the real thing - Food Court photos are often so delicious and wholesome - looking when compared to the real disgusting thing than often ends up in front of us. I tend to be more sympathetic towards the idea of honesty that we are confronted with in our everyday lifestyle. Perhaps this is why I am interested in the raw gritty feel of combining non - professional equipment along with professional processes.

Lomographs are photographs that have been taken through Lomo cameras. It's an activity - based kind of photography that focuses on the distinctively unique characteristics of its lens. Lomo comes from the international Lomographic Society based in Austria. They work in collaboration with Lomo embassies all over the world offering activities and exhibitions for alternative photography. I became drawn to the Lomo concept in London as I was already working with toy cameras and Super 8 movies.

I make my painting to illustrate my film/video. To me, the process of painting serves a function which is in reversed to the professional film industry. A professional cinematographer is usually directed to shoot under instructions from a sketched storyboard. My paintings are segments from my storyboards, they were made after my sketched films.

This is my third exhibition that I am paying particular attention to the relationship between Art and Film. In the past, I have used the genre of Road Movies to reflect on my own nomadic experiences in not having fixed root. This exhibition deals with the results of my previous specifically because I intend to enhance the viewer's perception of the theatrical and mechanical devices of filmmaking in order to reflect on the aesthetics and narrative powers of movies. I am fascinated by the way that people (around the world) bring their own stories to watch a movie whether it's mindless fodder or an award - winning intellectual challenge. Most of us are entertained and enlightened by the impact of cinema.

I have nothing to say… only to show….

Prapon Kumjim