Education

Sunday August 21, 2005

A passion for pictures

BY SHARMILLA GANESAN

IT IS a photograph that perfectly captures the energy and mischief of a group of boys bathing in a river. The children are splashing away; arms held aloft, faces lit with broad smiles.

The photographer has translated into picture the pure joy and carelessness of that moment. The work of a photography student, perhaps? Or maybe even a graphic designer? Wrong on both counts.

The photographer is actually a medical student, and that picture is part of an exhibition put together by three medical students and a biotechnology scholar.

Aptly entitled Test Tubes, the exhibition that is being held in Long Black Café, Petaling Jaya, showcases the work of Gan Jo Han, Khoo Yoong Khean, Eugene Koh and Pratiwi Utari.

(From left) Biotechnology undergraduate Pratiwi and medical students Yoong Khean, Jo Han and Eugene have been working hard for the past two weeks to make their exhibition a success.
Their experience in photography varies from just a few months to several years, but they are all united by their passion and desire to use pictures to tell unique stories about life.

“One of the main things we are trying to show is that everyone has an artistic streak, even if they are science students,” says Jo Han, who is currently pursuing medicine at Oxford University.

Jo Han says photography provides him with a form of escape from his hectic schedule as a medical student, and helps him develop his artistic side.

“I don’t want to develop just as a doctor; I want to develop as a human too,” he says.

Jo Han's photos are themed People and Faces.
Not only is photography a creative outlet in their lives, it is also a unifying force. In fact, it is this love of taking photos that brought these four young people together.

They met through an online photography forum called PhotoMalaysia.com about two months ago, and have shared their enthusiasm for the art ever since.

However, there is also an emphasis on developing individual styles and methods, as demonstrated by the four themes of the exhibition. Jo Han chose to work on the theme People and Faces, Pratiwi on Things I Like, Eugene chose Footsteps, while Yoong Khean’s theme is Solitude.

The idea to have an exhibition of their works was sparked during a trip to Malacca, where the four friends came across a roadside stall selling mounted paintings. Eugene suggested that this simple method of display would be a unique and effective way of showing their photos.

The others greeted his suggestion with enthusiasm.

“I thought it would be quite unusual to have such an exhibition; it would also be wonderful exposure for us,” says Eugene, a medical student at the Royal College of Surgeons, Ireland.

Pratiwi's collection follows the theme Things I Like.
As Jo Han and Eugene will soon be returning abroad for their studies, the four friends had to work extremely fast to organise everything in time. Their first stumbling block was a venue to hold the event in. Rather than struggle to find an affordable yet conducive gallery, the students decided to try something different.

“We really couldn’t afford the fees for many of the places, so we decided to have it in a casual and accessible place. After all, the main aim was to show our work to the public,” says Yoong Khean, who studies at Melaka Manipal Medical College.

Thus, when Long Black Café agreed to be their venue sponsor, the young photographers seized the chance to exhibit their photos in an informal yet comfortable setting. Of course, it was quite a challenge putting together a photo exhibition, especially since they only had two weeks.

“It was a real frenzy!” says Yoong Khean. “We had to do practically everything ourselves, as it was a personal venture.”

Pratiwi, who is studying biotechnology at Monash University, Malaysia, says that photography provides a great balance to studying science.

“Our courses are quite rigid, with set guidelines and methods. Photography, on the other hand, is fluid and free. It gives our lives a much-needed contrast,” she says.

Yoong Khean's photos are themed Solitude.
The only girl in the group, Pratiwi hails from Jakarta. She says she has been a fan of photography since she was 12, when she started taking snapshots with her grandfather’s camera. A year ago, she got serious about her hobby and started exploring the art.

Pratiwi initially started taking pictures of things that attracted her, but her photography has evolved into a means of showing new facets of nature. She feels photography has even helped her hone her academic skills.

“Since most of my pictures are of nature, I’ve become a much more observant person. Taking the photos is like watching science in action,” she says.

Eugene emphasises that photography goes a long way in developing positive traits in students.

“I’ve learnt to be a more patient person. With photography, you really have to wait for the right moment to capture a shot,” he says.

“Of course, photography is, first and foremost, fun!” adds Yoong Khean. “But I’ve also learnt to be open-minded as well as communicate better with people. These are things that will help me in my future career as a doctor.”

Eugene says one of the most difficult aspects of making the exhibition work was convincing people to give the idea a chance.

“Most people do not see the importance of encouraging ventures like this. We are lucky we managed to get it off the ground,” he says.

Clearly, these are students who do not believe in sticking to stereotypes. With their creativity and determination, they have shown that arts and science can indeed mix!

If you would like to experience a photography exhibition with a difference, why not take a look at Test Tubes? With its fresh perspectives, you just might see something that will fire your imagination! Test Tubes will be on till Aug 31, everyday from 10am to 1am at: Long Black Café, No. 8, Jalan SS2/67, Petaling Jaya, Selangor Darul Ehsan.

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