Resistance Calling

Let me tell you what I have not been doing.

1. commit365. Might as well rename it to slack365.

2. Research for mock-exhibition project.

3. Script for radio ad was labelled as 'terribly straight forward' and now it's back to chopping it all up to make something new and submission's on Friday.

4. Think something out for album design project.

5. Weekly reflective for week 3 and 4.

6. Literature review for proposal.

7. Research for proposal.

8. Jog.

Resistance is sitting on my shoulders, whispering into my ears saying it's okay, the deadline can still be met, all is fine, so I can surf more Facebook, play more Bejeweled and snuggle in bed. The only thing I can do now is to sit down and work. Easy. Right.

USM Final Year Exhibition

I went back to Penang last weekend to catch two very good friends' final exhibition. They both study in USM doing product design and new media respectively. We are friends made closer from taking up Pendidikan Seni in Form 6. It was with them when I first painted a huge-kick-ass canvas and won third place (my first and only artsy win outside of school), together we slaved over projects and art homework, together we stayed back in school cooped up in the art room raiding the supply room. Good times.

Leng is special in her own unique way, and I mean this in the worst way possible. (LOL!! She'll so kill me if she read this.) I don't know about you, but I think we all have our own rivals to push us to perform better in life. For me, at that time in my life, I've labelled Leng my rival(ask her about me and she'll probably say 'kok-quin-who??'). A-hem, we both do well in art class, the art teacher seemed to always measure the both of us against one another. Surprisingly, we work very well together too. There was this time when we were both in charged of designing stuff for graduation night (back in those days when yours truly have no idea at all how to function Illustrator). We both happy procrastinated to the very last minute, panicked to the core together then finally, fused our brain to hit the deadline on the spot.

Leng is an awesome person who will do well in anything she chose to do. She chose product design, which she ultimately hated, but as you can see in the picture, we were sitting on her design, a shoe chair. And that piece of work's really cool. She was the only one among the graduates there to be specially praised by the dean. Heck, I was one proud friend when I heard that.

Lo and behold Kee Theng. Her work is very conceptual based on the 'secret of life' which is the law of attraction. She alone managed to build up this whole installation almost all on her own, plus spending a bomb. I knew she was under a lot of pressure during this whole period. It was awesome seeing her finally putting everything together and managed to pull through it all.

She might not be the most confident person in the room that day, but she's definitely the bravest to attempt her project. Others in her course are satisfied with doing simple flash for show, but she'll have to go make herself take up such a daunting challenge. In the end, it was all definitely worth it.

Congratulations, girls!!

All these made me think about my own exhibition end of the year. Ugh. Scary thought.

For pictures of other works I've taken that night, check out my Facebook album.

Glee: Defying Gravity

Something has changed within me

Something is not the same

I'm through with playing by the rules

Of someone else's game

Too late for second-guessing

Too late to go back to sleep

It's time to trust my instincts

Close my eyes: and leap!

It's time to try

Defying gravity

I think I'll try

Defying gravity

Kiss me goodbye

I am defying gravity

And you wont bring me down!

I'm through accepting limits

''cause someone says they're so

Some things I cannot change

But till I try, I'll never know!

Too long I've been afraid of

Losing love I guess I've lost

Well, if that's love

It comes at much too high a cost!

It's time to try

Defying gravity

I think I'll try

Defying gravity

Kiss me goodbye

I am defying gravity

And you wont bring me down!

The whole world's crazy over this series and yet I've only truly experienced its charms the day before yesterday. The series's only until episode 13, the rest will resume come April. I've a feeling I am going to finish the first half of the season very soon with eyes glued to my iPod (hurr.. what radio ad research?).

Anyway, this song is a diva-off between Rachel and Kurt, an audition to determine who will win the solo performance for it. The song 'Defying Gravity' is so far, my favourite piece from the whole series (i'm in episode 9 now).

I am so totally in love with the show. Not too late right? =D

A Fraction of the Whole: Steve Toltz

I would never buy this book if it's not for the pretty cover, I don't even know the author. Other than the attractive retro looking design, the pink blob and spots are all embossed. It's very appealing to touch.

The basis of the story is this:

Meet Martin Dean: the man his country loves to hate, and his son hates to love. He spent his life analysing anything and everything, and imparting his self-garnered wisdom to his only son, Jasper. Only now that his father is dead can Jasper fully reflect on the man who raised him in his own extraordinary style, and realise that, for all its unstoppable lunacy, theirs was a great adventure.

This was the longest time I've spent reading any book, one month. I started before Chinese New Year and I've only finished it now. I am amazed I didn't give up on it. The reason I took such a long time reading this book was I have become a lazy reader. I read only before sleeping, thus managing at the most a couple of chapters every night.

Other than taking an abnormally long time to read and buying just because of its pretty cover, this book was amazing. Really.

Toltz has a completely different writing style from authors I'm familiar with. His writing was very opinionated, philosophical and highly sarcastic to the point of being refreshing. Every page contains quotes that inspired thought provoking insights. My personal favourite was this:

... you need to think yourself into the open, and the only way to do that is to enjoy not knowing whether you're right or wrong, play the game of life without trying to work out the rules. Stop judging the living, enjoy futility, don't be disillusioned with murder, remember that fasting men survive while starving men die, laugh as your illusions collapse, and above all, always bless every single minute of this silly season in hell.

This is a thick book, seven hundred pages containing crazy over-the-top characters that I'm not sure whether to like or not and an intricate plot with some of the most outrageous ideas plus some twists and ironies thrown in.

If you wanna read this book, try not to google it or find out about it on amazon.com. Read this without expectations and unprepared. Then it'll be like going on a roller coaster without any safety barriers. It's a deliciously wild ride.

Lamborghini Gallardo

It felt like ages since I last blog something on my assignments.

This is the first thing we did for Graphic Design this sem. It's actually a Lamborghini skin design competition disguised as class work. Initially, student participation fee is RM150. But since they seemed to really want us to submit something for this, selected artworks for participation will be sponsored by the uni.

So yeah, everyone in class will submit one piece of artwork. Then from this, a certain number will be filtered through. The grand prize is pretty amazing where relevant: RM5k, ride on in the Lamborghini around Sepang circuit (yada-yada), artwork will be printed on the real car and be put on display in selected malls, plus, an internship position in a renown advertising agency. It sounded so good. But then again, LUCT rarely deliver on their promises, so let's just take this at face value as of now.

My concept is inspired by the intricate patterns on a peacock as well as the luxurious colours of its feathers. Can you spot the bird?

My take on this from the personal I-slaved-over-this-too-much-to-not-like-it point of view.

I love it. I seriously love my designs on this car. I started off not knowing what to do. The idea of a peacock simply struck me and I wouldn't even consider some other concept. I just went through with this. I did some half-hearted sketches, knowing all the while the work is in me and I'm dying to quickly do something on-screen. I love the colours. The patterns. When I finished with the side of the car, I simply can't take my eyes off it. To me, the colours are brilliant and really striking. That part of the design pops out from the flat surface. I like how everything looks so shiny and the scaly patterns look like crystals from the sea.

Looking at my work as if it's designed by my worst enemy.

I don't like the look from the back. The light green at the back looked so faded and dull. Plus, the composition of the round patterns supposedly an imitation of the peacock's tail fell flat. I placed them very uninspiredly anywhere I can find a place to chuck. The swirly patterns at the top of the car can be more intricate. Some of the patterns look flat as they don't really follow the contour of the car.

In conclusion, I am very happy with my design this time around. I really really am. Screw that part of me that thinks there's something wrong with it. There is, obviously. But right now, I'm just happy with the outcome. I can stare at the side of the car for the longest time. It's so pretty. Lalalalalala~

On a much more serious note, do you see anywhere else I can improve? Umm? Throw me your two cents! Thankyouverymuch.

ps: yes yes yes.. self-praise is no praise. whatever. =)

Of Anger and Bittersweet Memories

Tonight I was brought face-to-face with my anger. My anger is quiet, seething. I was not sure it's even there until I felt it react to the slightest provocation. I didn't think I cared before and even made excuses for the insensitivities. This is what I call giving up in slow-mo. I simply... do not care and will not make effort, anymore?

*****

It was the same place where memories were built. Things took a change for the better. This time, I didn't reminisce in bitterness and wallowed in self-mockery. This time, I recalled for how these moments were meant to be. They made me smile, albeit sadly. Nevertheless, they made me smile.

Time Flies by Eason Chan

This image scares me (i see similarity between this and the jackal ghost in the movie 'thirteen ghost'). It might be an indication to a rather beyond the norm album. I do admire him doing something different all the time though. Awesome. I will be looking forward to getting this CD in April. Moolah's only in by then. At the mean time, if you're interested, do check out the MVs in this album. (as far as i know, there's only ONE eason fan out there that snoops in my blog. heh.)

E

I'd like to... be smiling the whole day. And this image helped me do that. =)

It Couldn't Be Done

It couldn't be done. Or so they say. I like the rhythm in this poem. As I read it, it gives me this rhythmic country song feel.

Love Notes on the 9th

I am twenty-three this year. Oh my God... sounds so old. My aspirations? Live my twenties to the brim!! I have seven more years to fill with great adventures before I hit thirty. Seven years that I intend to fill with love, passion, hard work, perspiration, blood, tears, and laughter. In short, living my life as honestly splendid as I can. (not that there's no more life in thirties, but i'll leave that part to when i actually get there)

The following are little love notes I got on Facebook that just made me smile endlessly. Little notes that really, just made my day. Last year, I got similar birthday greetings on my wall. What I did was just quickly read through everything and post one thank you note in my update, addressing everyone who wished me 'happy birthday'. Wishes on my wall bored me then.

But this year, I do not know what filled me with sudden gratitude for everyone that actually took half a minute off their routine, just to send me a little note. Some of these are short customary greetings, while others are heartfelt. By replying every single one of them personally, there was this short moment when I get to relive memories I have with that person. I'll remember who they are, in which period of my life have I met them, and what was the most memorable thing about them. I think I am really getting old. Haha...

wacky people with wacky notes =)

heartfelt notes from people who know me all my life

ex-colleagues that still remember me

strangers in my life that cared, even for that small moment

Nothing is different. A birthday is just another day spent pampering myself, allowing myself to binge and making extra valid excuses not to do work.

Thank you 41, Shiau Fong, Ting Ting, Stella and Jet for spending the whole day with me. Thank you for the company, the food, the present, the cake, and the everything. Really. Thank you. =)

Mr.

Introducing an up-and-coming Hong Kong rock band, Mr.!

You can all google about this band's basic information if you want, but my post is in relation to my favourite singer of all time, Eason Chan! *surprise!*

The guy in the centre is Alan Po, the vocalist. All along, his voice has been said to resemble Eason Chan's a lot. And truth be told, it does. Very much. Despite the resemblance, or rather because of it, I came to take notice of this band. Usually when an upcoming artist is said to resemble a very established singer, that artist will either sink or rise very quickly, depending on how he acted upon it. This band took the comment in their stride and came up with the song, "If I am Eason Chan" which propelled them into higher fame. The song is actually a tribute to Eason Chan for being an inspiration to a lot of people.

This was a very good tactic. It made me admire the band for their humility. The song was a very good teaser in introducing people to their music. People who are curious about them because of all this hype, will be attracted when they see there's actually talent in them.

When he first debut, Eason's style was said to resemble Jacky Cheung as well. As time goes by, Eason did very well to prove himself unique and has established his own signature style in terms of very strong vocals and quirky personality. No matter how much Alan Po resemble him, he will only ever be someone who can mimic Eason Chan very well. Eason Chan after all, did come first.

commit365: January

I haven't been really committed to the project BUT I did finish for the first month. Need to rev up to catch up.

Dream Stairs

When I am rich beyond reasons, in my dream house will be this dream staircase.

You can check out other awesome stairs designs from theChive.com. I merely, simply, fell in love with this one.

It's no.16

I like cruising along the highway on my own, singing out loud to blaring music. This will be even better if I have a companion at my side, singing to songs we both know and love. *hint to rui and hf*

Anyhow... am back to uni. First two days of school and the lecturers have managed to semi-freaked me. There seemed to be a lot of work in store. Not so sure if it's such a good idea for ALL the assignments to be due on the same day about ten weeks from now. Sure, we have more time to work on them (yea rite, hands up those who don't procrastinate!) but if we let slipped something, they are all gonna be goners.

While driving on the highway, I saw this red blazing disc on the horizon. One of the prettiest sights of the sun I've seen. It was about 7 in the morn, so looking directly into the egg-yolk didn't hurt my eyes at all.

Am in my new room in some place new yet not so foreign. Got myself a brand new desk and chair. It took me a while to straighten everything into its place. Let's see how long this orderliness will last.

Just like every other new semester, I promise to turn into a new leaf and set many ridiculous standards for myself. Now that I'm in Sem7, I know better than to plan. The best way of action will simply be, staying up and working.

Happy designing, fellow BPD7s. I have a feeling it's gonna be a glorious but deadly ride ahead!