Sroyon Mukherjee
( Research Fellow, Asia-Pacific Centre for Environmental Law (APCEL)Sroyon Mukherjee is a Post-Doctoral Research Fellow at the Asia-Pacific Centre for Environmental Law, NUS. His PhD, from the London School of Economics, was on environmental law and economics. His current research interest is on climate change law, specialist environmental courts and the polluter pays principle.
Pinhole Cameras
2022 - 2023
Recycled packaging and cardboard
Dimensions variable
Personal Statement
My project investigates the possibilities of creating a fully functional camera using materials that are typically considered "waste." Unfortunately, photography is not renowned for being environmentally friendly. Camera production extracts rare earths and heavy metals, while semiconductor fabrication consumes significant resources. Storage servers for daily photo and video uploads contribute to carbon emissions. The accumulation of e-waste poses a socio-ecological challenge, particularly for developing countries.
Over the past few years, I have crafted numerous pinhole cameras using household waste materials such as cardboard boxes, biscuit tins, and beer cans. While these cameras cannot fully replace traditional ones, they serve as a poignant reminder of the environmental repercussions associated with photography. They prompt us to contemplate our individual actions and consider how we can personally contribute to alleviating the impact on the environment.
In this iteration, I will experiment with producing images using pinhole cameras within the gallery. The cameras will capture the activity and experiments with time and exposure throughout the exhibition. The resulting processed images not only demonstrate the capabilities of these unconventional cameras but also serve as a reminder of how images can independently respond to and capture their environment. They invite us to reflect on the fundamental mechanics and function of photography, while encouraging us to be mindful of our ecological footprint.
My project investigates the possibilities of creating a fully functional camera using materials that are typically considered "waste." Unfortunately, photography is not renowned for being environmentally friendly. Camera production extracts rare earths and heavy metals, while semiconductor fabrication consumes significant resources. Storage servers for daily photo and video uploads contribute to carbon emissions. The accumulation of e-waste poses a socio-ecological challenge, particularly for developing countries.
Over the past few years, I have crafted numerous pinhole cameras using household waste materials such as cardboard boxes, biscuit tins, and beer cans. While these cameras cannot fully replace traditional ones, they serve as a poignant reminder of the environmental repercussions associated with photography. They prompt us to contemplate our individual actions and consider how we can personally contribute to alleviating the impact on the environment.
In this iteration, I will experiment with producing images using pinhole cameras within the gallery. The cameras will capture the activity and experiments with time and exposure throughout the exhibition. The resulting processed images not only demonstrate the capabilities of these unconventional cameras but also serve as a reminder of how images can independently respond to and capture their environment. They invite us to reflect on the fundamental mechanics and function of photography, while encouraging us to be mindful of our ecological footprint.
