Why do you take and create images?

I love to trap the image at it’s most living point.

How do you define your photographic/artistic body of work? What subjects do you often explore in your work?

My works is all about the sensation of life, like the banality of our own existence. Right now, I’m focusing more on the issue regarding how immigration and borders affect the culture of an individual as I am currently an immigrant myself.

What motivates your work?

Knowledge and awareness.

What relationship does your work have with reality?

Right now, my work coincide with my current situation of being an immigrant.

For you, what is the purpose of art?

For me, the purpose of art is the same as what motivates me, knowledge and awareness. We only give life meaning by our drives, and art is one of the elements that give me the drive.

How do you want the public to respond to your work? Do you have a particular audience in mind?

I really don’t care about others, People can’t be bothered anyways. You better work as close as possible to what your instincts tell you. Your first audience is yourself, so your works belongs to you. But I like to make things to be more conversational. I prefer not to preach or drop a big statement, I prefer to end something with a question, because I always question myself. So, I want to hear the point of view of others knowing how subjective the answers would be. I want to learn from others by giving them something to question and making them aware of it.

What is your training? Were you trained as a photographer?

It started when I was in my Elementary years when I was trained as a photojournalist for a National Schools Press Conference (NSPC). It continued on being a full-time photo- journalist for our school paper in High School. After that, I worked abroad as a photographer for an advertising and newspaper company. After years of working I realize that I need proper background and training especially in darkroom so I went to study at De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde in Photography.

How do you define your actual professional situation? What are your expectations?

I’m very passionate when it comes to art that I don’t want to view it as a profession. That was a mistake that I did in the past. Working as a photographer professionally, It sucked out all the magic and passion that I had in photography. I feel more fulfillment and satisfaction in creating something naturally than being forced to do so. I don’t see myself as a “professional” rather as an artist doing what she loves to do without limitations.

It’s hard to live off art. Does this affect you and your work?

I hardly live off my art. Sadly the reality is that I need to have a job to live off from. I make art as my lifestyle, to keep my sanity and my drives, but I try to separate my creative passion from my job.

Have you worked with gallerists, curators, institutions and other art professionals? Can you discuss more about this particular relationship?

Yes, I’ve curated group and solo exhibitions. Sometimes I co-curate and and assist in setting-up. I’ve also documented artworks of different artists for archival purposes and catalogs for their exhibition. I’m also a co-founder of a gallery which helped me connect with other gallerists and institutions. Given the nature of my job in the past, I’ve connected with other artists and supported them in their development in some way.

In your opinion, what is the current state of contemporary photography in the Philip- pines?

From what I have observed, photography is somewhat not widely accepted as a medium for art. Comparing to what I have seen here in the US and Europe, art photographers are widely supported by art enthusiasts and art professionals to a degree far from what I’ve observed in the Philippines. Difficulty in obtaining resources for artists in the Philippines may be one of the reasons of lack of interest in the medium. Even though, I’m glad to see how contemporary photography have developed throughout the years.

How do you want contemporary photography to develop in the Philippines?

Development of more programs that involves classes, workshops, exhibitions, photo critiques and events that would help in developing a community amongst contemporary photographers or photographers/artists in general.

I’m hoping to see major photography organizations or institutions organize a large scale art fair or event that focuses more on photography as an art-form. This will help photography to be a more accepted medium of art by enticing art collectors to support the medium.

 

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 CV

Name: Intel Japitana

Lives in Texas, USA. Born in Silay City, Negros Occidental, Philippines

Email: intelxjapitana@gmail.com

Website: inteljapitana.com

Education: