Born and raised in the Philippines, JAZEL KRISTIN comes from a family of photographers. But wanting to be different, she tried to stay away from photography… She dabbled in theater as a resident actor at the Metropolitan Theater, tried her hand at songwriting and joined KATHA (organization of music composers), performed her own songs at artists’ havens such as 70's Bistro and the legendary Club Dredd, made a short film at Mowelfund film school and joined Probe Productions as a video editor/cinematographer.
Pursuing her passion for moving pictures, she moved on as an edit supervisor for Philippines’ leading television documentary program called I-Witness on GMA-7 and other documentary projects. She also directed a documentary on the making of Isa Lorenzo’s Filipinas exhibit (shown around the Philippines, France and Spain) and is currently directing the I-witness episodes of Howie Severino.
But taking photos was in her blood, she mounted her first photography exhibit entitled T.R.I.P. (to rest in peace). This exhibit is the product of four years and countless rolls of film exposed in various local and foreign places such as Cambodia, Vietnam and China.
Spurred on by the success of her first exhibit, JAZEL KRISTIN unveiled her second solo exhibit, HOME IS WHERE THE ART IS at SilverLens, Inc. and Alliance Francaise de Manille last July 2007. Fusing her passions in music, video and still pictures, her work documents her European immersion—being lost, finding her way, and finally coming home.
Her video art entitled "SLOW DOWN" was shown during End Frame's Daily Disclosure's Exhibition at Shangri-La Mall in Manila last October. A one minute video about constant motion and the need to slow down to listen to the beat of the universe.
Jazel has also displayed her works at Penguin Gallery, Black Soup Gallery (ABSENCEmakesPRESENCE) in Cubao-X and VOCAS [Victor Oteyza Community Art Space] (WALANG Ka-PARIS & SELF) in the Philippines. SilverLens represented her art works at HK ART FAIR "08, Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre. Her works were recently featured in Design for Mankind’s Inspiration E-Zine and Blanket Magazine.
Her maiden exhibit in France entitled PARALLEL UNIVERSE was just recently shown at MJC Aubagne and Centre Les Recollets in Paris. It showcased her handmade single-edition photo collages, photo documentation of a street performance and video installation.
Jazel just concluded her Artist Residency at Cite des Arts in Paris, France and now busy preparing for several shows.
JJXTN/JJ-Christine is now JAZEL KRISTIN
// june 2009
