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Mahen Bala

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Tag: exhibition

Posted on September 5, 2019September 11, 2019

WHAT HAPPENED TO PULAU KLUANG(?)

Download the complete work here (19mb) Review on Critics Republic by Bilqis Hijjas This photo essay is an experiment in writing a fictional history of Kluang when it was once an island. Through two sets of photographs (YESTERDAY and TODAY) viewers are taken through a journey to the past and present, exploring memories of two days …

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Posted on May 16, 2015January 28, 2018

Portraits of a Monsoon: Making the print, part 2

Continued from Part 1 Scanning There were several problems here. All I had was a flatbed scanner (Canon 9900F) which came with both 35mm and medium format film holders. None of them worked as designed. After much frustration and tests, I learned that I had to place the film flat on the glass to get …

Continue reading "Portraits of a Monsoon: Making the print, part 2"

Posted on May 13, 2015January 28, 2018

Portraits of a Monsoon: Making the print, part 1

  I frequently make the mistake of not writing about my work. Here’s a brief guide on how I produced an 8 meter long print from my Portraits of a Monsoon series. I’ve been told that it is the longest photographic print ever produced in the country. This essay explores some of the technical and …

Continue reading "Portraits of a Monsoon: Making the print, part 1"

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When durian was in season my dad would bring home gunny sacks filled with durian from the farms he visited. We had so much fruits that sometimes that was all we had for dinner. A buffet of durian and mangosteen. Naturally there was plenty leftover and mum must have learned how to make this dish from my Malay relatives. At home we called it pulut durian, and I ate bowls of it for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
A stranger sits down at my table and offers me a glass of water.
Art has the potential to move us in unpredictable ways. Sometimes they make us laugh, at both ourselves and the world. Sometimes they nudge us out of our comfort zones, invoking unfamiliar thoughts and emotions. And sometimes they leave us drained and dead inside. But don’t worry, everything will be ok.

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