Summon Mnemosyne: Capture Memories with the Special Edition Lomo'Instant Automat Camera From Thai Artist, Jarb.

Our latest artist collaboration is a legend in itself! We have teamed up with Thai artist and illustrator, Mongkol Srithanavilot, aka Jarb, for this special edition Lomo’Instant Automat camera, fusing Thai coolness with mythological grandeur. Jarb’s bold, allegorical design draws inspiration from the story of Mnemosyne, the Greek goddess of memory. A conduit for the wildest imaginations, this camera is designed to immortalize memories, offering users the opportunity to capture moments in a unique and vibrant way.

We invited Jarb to talk about the Lomo'Instant Automat Jarb edition. Read on to find out more about the concept of this camera and discover his photos.

Hi, and welcome back to Lomography Magazine! Can you start by telling us more about Jarb? How did it start?

Certainly! I have liked drawing since I was a child. As I grew older, I began to look into careers where I could utilize my drawing skills, eventually coming across illustration as a viable option. Intrigued by this career, I set my sights on becoming an illustrator from the 9th grade. After completing high school, I studied Fine Arts at Silpakorn University. Following graduation, I became an illustrator as I intended. In my work, I really enjoy drawing in various styles according to the requests of my customers.

At some point, I felt my work was so diverse that I couldn't pinpoint its style. I wanted to discover for myself what kind of work I truly enjoyed. So I went back to university. I have always found that my work evokes a feeling of nostalgia through a style imbued with a Citypop essence. Even after graduating and starting work, I still draw in this style during my free time. Every time I draw, it's like recording memories and feelings of nostalgia. As I continue to work, I intend to focus more on this type of artistic expression. It remains my main style to this day.

How do you find inspiration for your illustrations?

All of my artwork is like a reflection of my nostalgic feelings. I'm someone who was very fascinated by Japanese culture in the 1980s. The most prominent influence is the Citypop style, the artwork found on the vinyl record covers of 80s Japanese music, and the environment and objects that surround it.

What is your style of work?

It's the Citypop style. I've been influenced by songs and album cover artwork from that era. There are two artists who are considered the godfathers of the Citypop style: Hiroshi Nagai and Eizin Suzuki. I was greatly influenced by them. The work of these two masters quite clearly expresses the essence of the Japanese 80s, so I incorporated the uniqueness expressed in the artwork of that era into my own work. The essence of Japanese artwork from that era is something I strive to honestly convey through my work.

What was the inspiration for this Lomo’Instant Automat Jarb edition?

It is the artist's interpretation. The camera serves as a recorder of the memories of that moment. When we press the shutter once, it captures various moments, much like how I often tell stories through interpretations of statues of ancient Greek gods. This time, I depicted the statue of the god Mnemosyne, who is the god of memory according to Greek mythology, as a representative for recording those memories. On the back of the camera, there is a message in Japanese: “シャッターを押してください、戻ってきます。” which translates to “Press the shutter and I will come back.”

Why did you choose to paint the David statue in so many of your works?

The David statue represents me in various stories. Besides embodying a Citypop vibe, I'm still quite attached to statues of ancient Greek gods because they are often used as models for studying art. Back in the 9th grade, the first drawing that I dedicated serious effort to was a picture of the David statue, and I can it draw fluently. Consequently, I feel quite connected with this David statue, it's an object that brings me back to that feeling every time I encounter it.

Do you have any other hobbies?

I enjoy DJing with vinyl records because I really like listening to music, and I have collected a lot of Citypop records. On weekends, I unwind by listening to these vinyl records. If I ever get a chance, I open DJ sets at various events.

Could you tell us about your experience shooting with your Lomo’Instant Automat Jarb edition?

It feels very easy to use. Normally, I'm not someone who uses a camera much. Rather, I’m someone who prefers expressing the memories in their head through drawings. However, when I tried using this camera, I found it to be another way to help record different moments in another format.

What's the theme of this photo set?

In fact, it's about capturing various environments at that moment in time, including various objects and places I find myself in. It's like a helping hand to record the details of various moments in my daily life.

Since you like listening to Citypop music and being a DJ, if you could choose one song for this camera, which song would you choose?

I'd choose the song "Eki" by Mariya Takeuchi because it often plays while I'm working, haha. It infuses a sense of loneliness into the overall picture of the work, yet it still retains its inherent beauty.

If you could summon the god Mnemosyne to record one memory, what moment would you most like to record?

I would probably call on the gods to come back and record the memories from the first time I went to Japan. During that trip, although I took a few photos, I was so caught up in the surrounding atmosphere that I forgot to document many moments.

What do you think you want to do in the future? Or are there any other plans?

Currently, I am planning to hold a solo exhibition. I want to create work that is 100% my own because, in the past, most of my work has involved collaboration. So I want to try and tell the stories that I really want to tell through various mediums, including painting, sculpture, and installation. Hopefully, it will happen soon.

Finally, is there anything you would like to say to our readers?

- The Lomo'Instant Automat Jarb edition is a collaboration that I’m very excited about :D Hopefully, it will be another camera that aids in recording everyone's diverse memories. “ シャッターを押してください、戻ってきます。”

Follow more of Jarb's work on his website, Facebook and Instagram. Shop this new edition on our Online Shop!

written by aomschll on 2024-04-10 #gear #people #instant-photography #mythology #lomo-instant-automat #jarb #artist-edition