re:View-KL photography exhibition
June 30, 2011
re:View-KL photography exhibition
July 3 to 18 at DatumKL ShowBox
c/o MapKL@Publika, Solaris Dutamas,
Block A5, Jalan Dutamas 1, off Jalan Duta,
Kuala Lumpur.
(PAM’s proceeds from sales of artworks will be donated to charity)
the fine art of touching…
June 11, 2011
We have this strange obsession to touch photographs.
Nowadays, I sat in front of a small photo gallery in Nikon Centre KL for most of my working hours. I can’t help noticing how much people like to glide their fingers over the surface of the print as they stroll by. Some merely just like to have their hands touching the surface when they look at the prints, almost as if they are trying to make sure that the photograph is real. What they are trying to feel from the surface I really cannot tell. And what kind of feedback they can get from their finger tips from that touching is beyond my imagination as well.
Has the status of photographs diminish so much that they are no better than a road side poster on the wall? I don’t know. Photographic prints are very sensitive to touch. Not from the physical act of touching but from the oily grease on our finger tips. The oil leaves a visible impression on the surface that cannot be removed without damaging the print. Once the impression is there, the oil will gradually corrode the surface and making the impression even more visible. The damage is irreparable.
Aren’t we suppose to only look at photograph? Where does this touching come from? Let’s bring some respect back to photography. Seriously.
