Artabode was conceived in 2020.

Just two years earlier, the science of mRNA was still unfamiliar to most of us. As a healthcare professional, I had assumed it would take four or five years before a viable vaccine appeared. Yet, barely into the pandemic, the language of cellular and humoral immunity had entered everyday conversation; debates over the merits of Moderna, Pfizer, and home-brewed remedies were the norm.

From this milieu, Artabode emerged. Initially conceived as a virtual exhibition to raise funds for three charities—PSALT Care, Noah’s Ark Cares, and Melrose Home—it brought together a generous community. Many offered lighthearted poetry and prose; kind photographers shared their images and memories. Others donated directly, in both cash and kind.

As we move into 2026 , we envisage new plans and hope to refine our philosophy.

We move to discuss the neuroscience of memory in photography. This will lead us to current topics on artificial intelligence, connectivity of handphone photography and eventually, the ethics and restraints.