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Wayne Martin Belger
Yama, Side
[Yama camera]
n.d.
Color image
Provided by the artist - Wayne Martin Belger
LL/44811
Yama is 4x5 in stereo camera made from Aluminum, Titanium, Copper, Brass, Bronze Steel, Silver, Gold, Mercury with 4 Sapphires, 3 Rubies, Asian and American Turquoise, Sand, Blood, and 9 Opals and a 500 year old human Skull. The film loading system is pneumatic. A 300psi air tank in the middle of the camera powers 2 pneumatic pistons to move the film holder forward and lock it into place. The switch to open and close the film chamber is located under the jaw.
Designed for the study of exodus and for the research of modern incarnations of historical iconic figures.
Yama is the Tibetan God of Death. In Tibetan Buddhism, Yama will see all of life and Karma is the "judge" that keeps the balance. The skull was blessed by a Tibetan Lama for its current journey and I'm working with a Tibetan legal organization that is sending me to photograph the refugee cities in India with Yama.
Yama's eyes are cast from bronze and silver with a brass pinhole in each. A divider runs down the middle of the skull creating two separate cameras. A finished contact print mounted on copper is inserted in to the back of the camera to view what Yama saw in 3D.
Designed for two photo series. First series is of my interpretation of the modern incarnation of Saint, icons and deities. Second will take place in the Tibetan refugee cities of India, a home coming through the eyes of a 500 year old Tibetan.
[pers. email, 26 Nov 2011, Wayne Martin Belger to Alan Griffiths]
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