Historical Records
Made in China with the Holga
by Su-Jung Lee 2008
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About the Book
My new photographic work is in part about the machine and in part about the country it was created for. The machine is simple and plastic, completely manual, allowing for in-camera manipulation, such as multiple exposures.
The original Holga was created in 1982 for the working class of China. A machine made to be accessible, using 120 mm film, the most available film at the time, so that ordinary people could document their lives. Soon after its release, 35 mm became the most common film and the Holga became outmoded in China. Luckily for me, Holgas were exported west and found a cult following that has sustained them and even grown its image. It was a great point of departure for a new project in China.
The photographs offer a different perspective on China today. I wanted to create new relationships within a singular frame to broaden the meaning of everyday objects and life here. The layering of imagery layers meaning. These images are meant to be antithetical to the idealized commercial images that are so dominant here in China. My images focus on the details that are often overlooked.
The original Holga was created in 1982 for the working class of China. A machine made to be accessible, using 120 mm film, the most available film at the time, so that ordinary people could document their lives. Soon after its release, 35 mm became the most common film and the Holga became outmoded in China. Luckily for me, Holgas were exported west and found a cult following that has sustained them and even grown its image. It was a great point of departure for a new project in China.
The photographs offer a different perspective on China today. I wanted to create new relationships within a singular frame to broaden the meaning of everyday objects and life here. The layering of imagery layers meaning. These images are meant to be antithetical to the idealized commercial images that are so dominant here in China. My images focus on the details that are often overlooked.
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Features & Details
- Primary Category: Arts & Photography Books
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Project Option: Standard Portrait, 7.75×9.75 in, 20×25 cm
# of Pages: 24 - Publish Date: Dec 01, 2008
- Language English
- Keywords Holga, China, Photography
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