New Creart Printing Process by Dr Dunstan Perera

In today's fast-moving world of digital imaging it is refreshing to think that some photographers are keen to hang on to the traditional methods of image capture and printing. One such advocate of 'real' photography is Dr Dunstan Perera.

Sri Lankan-born Dr Perera remains fascinated with the old school ways of photography. As a college lecturer he has tried to teach his students the difference between photography and 'image making'. He describes the 'image makers' as the mavericks of the profession and as a maverick himself he says he is committed to pushing the boundaries and, throughhis intimate knowledge of the photographic printing processes, has recently announced a new printing process that he calls 'Creart'.

This is not the first of such inventions for Dr Perera. In 1988 he perfected the Heliochrome Process. Although the process shares the same name as that invented by Luis Niepce, Dr Perera's is a non-toxic pigment process utilising a modern photopolymer that hardens in UV light. Similar in operation to gumbi it contains paper sealant, activator and six toners.

The new Creart process is different from that of Heliochrome, says Dr Perera, but is reluctant divulge its actual formula. "The chemicals are non-toxic and non carcinogenic and once printed onto watercolour paper the images are archival," he says.

Dr Perera moved to London in 1960 after staging his very first one-man photography show in Sri Lanka. In the early 60s he freelanced for the likes of Pan, Corgi and numerous magazines. His first one-man show in London was sponsored by Agfa-Gevaert in 1964.

He later moved into the film business and began shooting movies as well as stills. It was in the late 60s that he moved to the United States to work on feature films and pop promo movies.

After moving back to the UK in the mid 70s, Dr Perera started his research into non-fading photographic processes and worked with all the old processes, including Carbo Carbon. He began showing prints made from his perfected Heliochrome process in 1988 and has had numerous exhibitions since.

Heliochrome Process

Dr Perera's Heliochrome Process is totally unique. It allows the user to produce archival prints in monochrome or colour on watercolour paper, plaster or cloth. Says Dr Perera: "Each print is individually appraised, hand crafted and nurtured as a piece of fine art. Duo-tone colour effects are possible which conventional toning processors cannot achieve."

Creart Process

Utilising non-toxic, biodegradable chemistry the Creart process allows the making of images on artist's watercolour paper in colour or monochrome. The results - governed mainly by the imagination of the printer - resemble a painting, etching or a charcoal drawing. "Most of the techniques used in painting can be applied. Creart uses similar 'earth' pigments that were used by the cavemen to make their paintings." explains Dr Perera.

"I have always believed that the camera can be used in the same way an artist uses a sketch pad," he explains. "That's the exciting part of photography. The image is the most important thing. The Creart Process allows me to make images from black and white Fuji Neopan film which look like anything but a photograph. If the old painters used photography to help them paint then why don't we turn it on its head and do it the opposite way?"

Describing himself as 'a one-man non-digital battle', Dr Perera's remains totally non-digital and intends to keep it that way. "The one thing I have learned at the age of 65 is that what I know is so little compared to the vast amount of information that is available. Today I do a lot of lecturing, but it is like the blind leading the blind. Lecturers are not teaching enough information. I believe that the only important thing is to get the student's curiosity going. Then they will really learn."

Dr Perera questions the value of straight photography as an art form: "My memory is far more beautiful than anything I can take, so what is the point of producing ordinary photographs?"

Exhibition

To see his latest printing technique 'in the flesh' Jessops, 63-69 New Oxford Street, London is hosting an exhibition of two dozen 20x24 inch images entitled Faces of Sri Lanka from 24th January 2002. Dr Perera himself will be in attendance on the 26th and 27th January.

The Creart Process may soon be made available in a kit form. Dr Perera is presently in negotiations with a supplier.

Article courtesy of Fujifilm Professional