The Diana is a cult-classic, 1960s toy camera known for its plastic body and meniscus lens, which produce dreamy, soft-focus, and heavily vignetted images. Originally a cheap 120-film camera from Hong Kong, it was revived by Lomography in 2007.
Quality was not a priority in the design or manufacture of the Diana. It had two shutter speeds, three aperture settings, and could shoot 16 four-by-four frames on 120 film. The lens caused heavy vignetting, the focus was soft, and cracks in the shoddily fitting housing frequently leaked light onto the exposed film. Sometimes the film spool only advanced partially to the next frame, or stopped working entirely, and the ability to make double exposures was very easy.
The camera was quickly taken up by artists who celebrated the unreliability and soft focus, they have become desirable and collectible.
Using the mold of a modern 35mm Diana camera, I will be using porcelain slip to cast multiple camera’s, they will be displayed in a grid, some of them will be gold foiled.
With this work I am exploring the place of memory, imperfection and obsolescence.
In her work she explores themes around climate, obsolescence, social change and memory
Her first love is, and remains Photography she also works with found objects, ceramics, collage, print and encaustic wax.
She has been a B&W Portrait Photographer for 35 yrs.
She is a member of TheSeeHere, a collective of 11 artists who each exhibit annually at a micro gallery in
Ghuznee St.Wellington.
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