Khemah Kamera

25 November 2021– Today I had the privilege to be amongst 10 other grant awardees to receive the Krishen Jit Astro & Creador Fund 2021! Met so many inspiring others (Gogu, Susan, Kameil), old friends, mentors & gurus. Looking forward to all their work and research.

Thank you @fiveartscentre team and selection committee for the award! I am finally getting this project rolling, start date March 2022. New exploration, a development from my previous grant with Krishen Jit Astro Fund back in 2013 #krishenjitastrofund2013.

25 January 2022– Attended a Bamboo building lecture at UCSI University (University College Sedaya International) by students. Showcasing building methods and joinery

29 April 2022- 2L 4.5 Pints Heavy Duty Chemical Pressure Spray

17 May 2022- 2L Hitmax water sprayer pump

10 June 2022- 8' x 8' Folding Canopy Set [JOO EAST]

10 June 2022- SmallRig 2pcs 15mm Black Aluminum Alloy Rod(M12-30cm) 12 Inch 1053

13 June 2022- Alas Meja 2.43m x 1.37m x 0.28mm

13 June 2022- 1 set 2 .5'x8' Kaki Meja Lipat

13 June 2022- SmallRig Screw Set
SmallRig Switching Easy Plate
SmallRig 2PCS Dual 15mm LWS Rod Clamp

13 June 2022- Folding Work bench Platform

15 June 2022-
KT WARE Kaki Meja Pasar Malam Foldable

13 June 2022- 1PC Screen Thin Oxford Cloth 210T

13 June 2022- 10m x 1.2m x 0.04mm silvershine plastic

15 June 2022-
Neck flange
Adjustable Duct Clamps
3-way pipe connector

15 June 2022- Flexible Duct hose
Inline Duct Fan (broke down)
Inline Booster Fan

16 June 2022- Electrical Socket

16 June 2022-
Trailing Extension Socket

21 June 2022- Plastic Hot Air Welding Gun

28 July 2022- AireGard AXA-320 - 6" Exhaust Fan Ventilator

2 June 2023- #KhemahKamera project site for next three months, starts today at KongsiKL again! Making a big tent camera and also exploring some performative element.

But this time renting this space under the colab program, to R&D the structure and device. Will have access to some cool tools WORX Tools, thanks to Calvin Ekotrends, new tool library community sharing resources centre!

8 June 2023- Mark out the dimensions & footprint area of the tent.

10 June 2023- Source PVC and Tarpaulin, learn the different types and techniques in how they are joined. First costing indication.

17 June 2023- Receive 10 feet square tent roof delivery.

17 June 2022– Just moved in to my new project build site, back at @kongsikl again, but under the Kolab programme, renting a space to build this device for the project #khemahkamera (follow the hashtag to keep up-to-date).

Will be busy with setting up this concept, a cross between a tent camera, but also to go beyond photography, exploring performance through projections. Open Studio exhibition set for July 20th, running for a week, I would like to invite artists to come explore with me, comment or DM me if you're interested.

I will still have some instant portrait booths monthly and workshops too, but less frequent. #kantastudio @_kanta.studio (follow hashtag)

project supported under #krishenjitastrofund2021 #krishenjitfund

20 June 2022— #KhemahKamera build. Front Standard bracket, bent a quarter inch mild-steel flat bar at a 90° angle, sharp radius. Something i learnt from the #becabuild project!

Its part of an attachment to hold large lenses, rated 6-7kg, with full movements! something I developed from a very early prototype #5elecamm back in 2015-2016. A different way to achieve movements, breakaway from traditional designs. (mix of handmade wood, steel & aluminium machined-parts now), total 11kg weight limit.

next is to drill and tap screw mounts and get this part done. stay up to date with this build project #khemahkamera follow the hashtag.

#krishenjitastrofund2021 #krishenjitfund

21 June 2022— #KhemahKamera build, today's office, back to my makeshift storage in Ampang, use my old bench drill, tap, and prep for mounting. Acquired Stainless Steel nuts & bolts, wing nuts, and had a flat, twice in two days.

Had to go to national art gallery reopening, met old friends since last met, just got into @kongsikl tonight at 7:30pm, measurements only, no time to do any more work.

22 June 2022— After some delays, finally got this assembled, complete! the front standard for the lens of the camera. with full movements, and also leveling base! woohoo.

Next trim off excess steel, strengthen the lensboard mount, and fine tune the mount bolts & alignment. #khemahkamera #krishenjitastrofund2021 #krishenjitfund

23 June 2022— Ventilation kit has arrive. Did restoration work on an old focusing platform but I was too dirty to make any pics of that. maybe tomorrow, will be starting on woodworking next, to build the frame for the camera. #khemahkamera

20 July 2022— Build update. The tent camera also features ventilation! (most important lesson learnt from the prototype in 2017), doubles as a portable walk-in darkroom, the educational aspect of it, and I will be experimenting to convert this into a projector too as a performative method.

with support from Krishen Jit Fund #krishenjitfund #KantaStudio

20 July 2022—for past 3 hours been riding round pasar, pudu, looking to fix this. main inlet ventilation fan kaput, after bout an hour of use. i suspect the motor fused or voltage irregularities... its so hard to find a fan. sent for repair, about a week to diagnose / repair if possible.

looking for replacement too

atm, using the outlet fan as inlet, and thanks to liew for loan of an exhaust fan....

ok its gonna get hot in the camera..

#khemahkamera

7 July 2022— Wayang Kulit, Penang Heritage Festival

27 June 2022— Back to #khemahkamera project, the tools library has arrived. powered tools! batt made my life so so so much easier! if you can imagine it, sketch it and you can build it! (much faster with batt powered tools) gosh where have they been... thank you for the tremendous support, just in time for wood work to start (should have used the batt powered vacuum......)

KongsiKL is going to have a power tools library soon for public use, loan, courtesy of Worx! forgive my crude workmanship... I'm more function over form kinda guy. ok more imagining sketching to do.

11 July 2022— #KhemahKamera project update, main camera parts are ready for testing, building it has been made easier with the powered tools #worx @ekotrendsmy that just arrived. Crucial parts arrived too for the tilting mechanism. Hack of how to drill a 90° hole with basic tools, some percision needed for the rear standard, no time to head back to Ampang to use the bench drill, or source for a trimmer. Installed all the eletrical devices, lights and ventilation alive!

Finally acquired a Digital camera after about 5 years... for documentation and upcoming project. thanks to #CENDANAMalaysia #createnow2 from 2021, need to really brush up on my vid making skills...

10 July 2022— After about 3 weeks of sketches and problem solving, it took me about another week to complete the restoration on the base geared-mechanism and build the moving parts that would make the "rear standard", the back part of the camera, with movements too!! (need to apply grease and sand of the edge, but its good to go!).

Will announce the open studio soon, I'm covered in saw dust, later tonight or tomo morning.

#khemahkamera

11 July 2022— unpack the PVC sheet

12 July 2022— test framing and corner folding

13 July 2022— acquire production clips

14 July 2022— produce pvc pipe clips

15 July 2022— build corner guards

15 July 2022— SUCCESS! plastic welding.... how to join different types of plastic sheet together!!!

17 July 2022— Update on the build #khemahkamera the last week has been an uphill challenge to sketch, design then build, working with new materials! PVC pipe, PVC tarpaulin, polysheets and plastic welding!! skill level unlocked, have new ideas for installations...

A little teaser to the khemah, there is still much to do, open studio in 3 days! gosh... i hope it'll be ready, i've not even tested my theories on projections yet!

#wismilak

with the kind support of #krishenjitfund thank you @fiveartscentre @kongsikl

10 July 2022– #KhemahKamera OPEN STUDIO July 20th to 25th, 10am till 10pm, open to the public to visit and interact at KongsiKL

Experimenting with various artists, on operating this ultra large-format camera, and exploring live projections and conceptual performances. There are two slots per day, day and night, the camera changes function according to daylight.

There will be instant portraits available but very limited, please make an enquiry. will announce in near future if large prints are available (over weekend, day time only).

scan QR for more info on project. (1 hour lunch dinner break 12pm & 6pm during open studio).

14 July 2022— #KhemahKamera OPEN STUDIO July 20th to 25th, 10am till 10pm, open to the public to visit and interact at @KongsiKL

There will be instant portraits available but very limited, please make an enquiry. *Pics from the first prototype #7bilikobscura back in 2017. This time round will be training a crew of ±7 people over the weekend.

scan QR for more info on project. (1 hour lunch dinner break 12pm & 6pm during open studio).

#krishenjitfund2021 #krishenjitfund

16 July 2022— #KhemahKamera OPEN STUDIO July 20th to 25th, 10am till 10pm, open to the public to visit and interact at KongsiKL

The Darkroom- primarily off-limits to many, but here is where the magic of the print happens. This project intends to break that barrier by creating a mobile setup. We'll have about 7+ crew who will be training over the weekend, based on my hacking methods working with silver gelatin prints & chemicals.

There will be instant portraits available but very limited, please make an enquiry. *pics from past video recordings of in the darkroom.

scan QR for more info on project. (1 hour lunch dinner break 12pm & 6pm during open studio).

#krishenjitfund2021 #krishenjitfund

20 July 2022— The biggest camera I've ever built! #khemahkamera is about 15 cubic meters (8 x 8 x 8 feet). About 85% completed in time for Open Studio today.

The mobile Instant Camera currently prints at 20 x 24 inches (since thats what is available here, 🙁 stock has not arrived yet though), but I plan to experiment with tiling. I can only afford a Russian lomo 480mm lens f6.2, the brightest I can find, maybe raise funds to get a larger lens.

The tent camera also features ventilation! ( most important lesson learnt from the prototype in 2017), doubles as a portable walk-in darkroom, the educational aspect of it, and I will be experimenting to convert this into a projector too as a performative method.

The next few days during the Open Studio, I will be experimenting with a few artists, photography, performer, painter, poet, illustrator (and classical pianists too) and hope to push the boundaries of what imagery from light can do.

Over the weekend, I will be operating the camera for portrait-making, training together with other photo-enthusiasts / crew members, come by after 12 pm and you might get a chance to be a test sitter, or if you like to make a portrait, please get in touch.

with support from Krishen Jit Fund #krishenjitfund Five Arts Centre

#KantaStudio

OPEN STUDIO list

20 July 2022—Rupa test

21- Sharina day

22- Cheng Qwee day, Mei Lin night

23- shoot crew day, nowhere kitchen night

24- shoot crew day, kongsi kl night

25- soo kim, sandee, ren xin prakash, chloe

23 July 2022— The small test print signifies the first ever print from the camera, but also the FIRST EVER INSTANT COLOUR PRINT! probably in Malaysia.

thanks to Low Che Ng for coming all the way from Singapore to have this exchange in our practise and being my colour print Sifu! he is my extended family of box cameras in the region. Thank you!

#KhemahKamera with support from krishen jit fund #krishenjitfund Five Arts Centre

23 July 2022– #KhemahKamera crew! almost fully operational, still in the testing stage, Yi Ke Kuik Emillio Daniel Aran Chandran. We did many prints today starting from 8x10 inch right up to 16 x 20. One of the tray started leaking from an old crack, so we didn't get to go 20 x 24.

Thanks to the team who went the extra mile, each taking a turn in making a print exposure each. Well done.

Tomorrow another session but we will stop at about 3 to 4pm cause the sunlight here really goes fast.

27 July 2022— Upgrade trays

29 July 2022– packing test

14 August 2022– Minimal pack kit

12 August 2022— In Langkawi in the coming week, #KhemahKamera #KantaStudio will be part of Walkabout AsiaWalk The Doc International Documentary Festival.

We have a number of interesting programs lined up for Langkawi Walk The Doc 2022 such as Masterclasses and Talks on documentary production and marketing, Screenings of stories from across Asia and the Pacific as well as the Award Ceremony Dinner on the 24th of August.

All this plus an opportunity to network with documentary filmmakers from the region.

If you are interested to attend and participate, please fill in your details here: https://forms.gle/kn3q64AKr73xaXrP8

Hope to see you there!

20 August 2022— Touchdown Langkawi

21 August 2022— International Documentary Festival #walkthedoc presenting a masterclass, Kanta Portraits- Unboxing the Box Camera, Art Printing workshop on Silhouette Portraits, and setting up #KhemahKamera during the conference with delegates from around the world, documentary film makers with National TV networks #KantaStudio

*SPECIAL* with guest Luc Chen Selv Grass @rarahaho, box camera practitioner & cultural artist from Taipei. If you happen to be in Langkawi, come catch us and we'll make a portrait of you.

13 September 2022– Installing a 3 leaf shutter! #khemahkamera

Pakard shutter my camera sifu gave me, its broken but the mechanism still moves. its over a 100 years old, i'll find a way to make it work somehow.

Now with shutter control & aperture dial!

#khemahkamera upgrade. wow with mitre saw done in 30 mins! what would've taken me more than a day by hand. thanks WORX Tools !!! Ekotrends for the support.

12 September 2022— OPEN / CLOSED Studio
#KhemahKamera

I'm setting up the tent to do repairs and some tests before heading up to Penang. I'm open to visits, best by appointment so I will be there. (FREE KOPI if you're up to tasting my rendition of KL-styled kopi)

14th - 18th September 2022, 2:00 - 8:00 pm

Testing, repairing & refining the ultra large camera/ projector. Free kopi, best by appointment.

with support from Krishen Jit Fund #krishenjitfund Five Arts Centre

13 September 2022— KANTA Showcase

Cuba Dengar Dulu, Malaysia Day 16th September 2022, 2:00 - 8:00 pm, KongsiKL, Kuala Lumpur

Instant portraits are available at various sizes, please enquire to book a spot. A showcase of Kanta Portraits, a research on Malaysia and Taiwan indigenous communities. Research materials will be on display during the Cuba Dengar Dulu Festival .

Also on installation is the #KhemahKamera, an ultra large format camera experimental project. A portion from the earnings will be presented to Illuminate, a school for refugees.

16 September 2022— setup ready

18 September 2022— Malaysia Day with @cubadengardulu showcase of @kantaportraits research materials, instant portraits, and #khemahkamera installation. thank you for the support and love, RM 550 was raised for Illuminate, the school for refugee. @_kanta.studio

Next round at OPEN STUDIO Penang at @hinbusdepot 23rd-26th Sept and Instant Portrait at @______stellar 1st & 2nd Oct. make your bookings soon! #KantaStudio

2 September 2022– #KhemahKamera OPEN STUDIO PENANG September 23rd to 26th, 12pm till 8pm, open to the public to visit and interact.

Experimenting with artists, on operating this ultra large-format camera, and exploring live projections and conceptual performances. There are two slots per day, day and night, the camera changes function according to daylight.

Small instant portraits are available during Hin Market 10 am - 5 pm, for the large tent portrait please make an enquiry.

#krishenjitfund Five Arts Centre Jeffrey Lim / Kanta Studio

18 September 2022– #KhemahKamera OPEN STUDIO PENANG September 23rd to 26th, 12pm till 8pm, open to the public to visit and interact.

INSTANT PORTRAITS are available during Hin Market 11 am - 5 pm, PM to make a booking, for the large tent portrait please make an enquiry.

#krishenjitfund

22 September 2022— setup time, little rain but we take a break, 2nd breakfast. thanks my old time friend Lam Chin Yee for helping out!

22 September 2022– Done setup! thanks to team Penang! Lam Chin Yee & Antoine Loncle . I'm so happy its reached this stage, the last field work & outreach for project #khemahkamera. lined up some group portraits for the good people of Penang. If anybody here like to have a family or group portrait, please get in touch for a booking, asap.

camera has a face, arms and a lubang b*ntut

23 September 2022— Warmest cutest Puan Sris, haha Kak Zana and the singing Datins 🙂 I'm back on commuting cycling! had a really good day testing and getting acquainted with the #KhemahKamera. Thank you @hinbusdepot for hosting the project! @hinmarket tomorrow 11am - 5pm! see you there.

24 September 2022— Biggest highlight of my day, visit from the kids from gempak 100 program. We split up the task so each one of the budaks get to be part of the photo-making process, and then switch roles. thank you for bringing them over. Thank you to Antoine Loncle for being here today, being a big part of the project #khemahkamera

26 September 2022— We're gonna make plenty of Jon's portrait and paste it everywhere in georgetown 😉 portrait made by @loncle.bonkle. today was quite a full on day, making portraits of so many beautiful people. I love Penang!

Tomorrow is the last day of Open Studio Penang and marks the finale of the project's fieldwork. I think khemah will be in storage for the next 5 years... Its so hard to operate, but so functional as an educational tool.

#KhemahKamera #KantaStudio

27 September 2022— Last day was Penang-all-out-sun day! i think i have tanned several tones (zones). lined up a few shoots on ultra large 20 by 24 inch papers for groups. Managed a little field trip to Toh Lok Hau, to document an ancestral home before it will be totally demolished. An original settlement, first migrant village, one of the last free-forming village in Georgetown, penang island.

Most beautiful people, so much love from the islanders. I'm going to spend more time in Sunny Penang soon!

Taking down khemah today, and repack into the car! Bye bye khemah!

#KhemahKamera #KantaStudio

27 September 2022— Un-installation #KhemahKamera time-lapse tryout, but it fell short at the last bit. Thank you Hin Bus Depot for hosting Open Studio Penang, thank you Antoine Loncle for immense help and Lam Chin Yee too. Thank you for the insights and exchange from fellow art practitioners who visited, I have gained a broader perspective and many new questions. thank you for the patronage and support from people of penang.

OPEN STUDIO list

23 Sept- Rezzuan, Sek Thim

24- gempak, lay heong

25- antoine, chin yee

26- ken students, chin yee

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