#ARTproject: Asian Roses

#ARTproject

Akib, Risa, Tanaya

~

"ASIAN ROSES"

"Woo on, with odour wooing me,
Faint rose with fading core;
For God's rose-thought, that blooms in thee,
Will bloom forevermore."

*

George MacDonald, Songs of the Summer Night, Part III.

Photography and Creative Direction : Akib Aryou (@akibaryou)

MUA and Hairdo : Arivina Risa (@arvrisa)

Model : Dwinda Tanaya (@dwindatanaya)

Copyright by #AwareHouse, April 2013.

#ARTproject: Asian Roses (Prologue)

I think, I have to apologize, first.

This photoshoot was supposed to be posted at May; but due to some scheduling conflict (well, actually, that was just me being busy doing stuffs) I had to postpone this until today. Gosh, three months! But I do hope that this was worthy.

ARTproject stands for Akib, Risa, Tanaya project. This project was actually a spontaneous idea that I got last year. Remember the 'Someday, Today.' post? Well, I was really inspired by friends to create a fashion photography portofolio. I knew that it was crazy to create such things when I was preparing my final exam; but, I mean, hell, who cares? I only young once and if I start things too late, it's over.

So I contacted my best-partner-in-crime-ever, Risa. We went to the same junior high school, but we only knew each other at high school, when we joined school theatre performance and got partnering character. Well, that was it, I think: since then, I never was able to find any other working partner who could understand my artistic vision and desires. She is really talented, mostly when it comes to make my dreams come true. 

We talked about this project and when she was in, it means that this project just got its green light, yeay! We then looked for our first model (as of course, we can't afford any professional model). So we asked our dear friend Dwinda which is just another talented figure. She was a dancer, have been representing our province in many cultural events and competition, yet she is a very warm-hearted person, so we knew that any failur in this experiment wouldn't annoy her so much, hahaha. She agreed to join this project, so it was the time to do the deed.

For the costume, we borrowed many things from our school theatre, Jubah Macan; our friends; and personal wardrobe from my cousin and my mother's (credit goes to Arum, Acha, and Mbak Hanna). We got some troubles finding the location to shoot as there was no way we could afford any studio. But we got generous help from our beloved friend Kezia. She invited us to her house, a big house in the middle of the country. We went there in the middle of this huge rain by motorcycle (such an amazing fact that we could keep the camera, lighting, and tripod dry).

Risa did the whole makeup, I did the styling. The shoot went really well, finished with a well-dining, too, sponsored by Kezia (Thankyou!). You can check the behind-the-scene sneak peek here.

I did the whole digital imaging for the photographs. It took me almost three months to work on it as I was so busy with the national exam preparation. Actually, I almost didn't finish it; until we got another generous help from our juniors. So the tenth-grade students were holding our school's annual art exhibition, the DedicArt, and they offered a special room for us to present the ARTproject.  Gosh! We would be very stupid to miss such ultra-generous offer, so we finished the whole thing. We did any other third-grade-student-facing-final-exam can do to showcase their artwork in only 24 hours; but we did it, afterall. We were so glad to tell you that our friends and teachers reacted well to our showcase. Here's some pathetic shots of some parts of the showcase. (Huge thanks to my cool bro Alvin, beloved Nora, Nicky, and DedicArt team!)

The next month, we were so busy preparing things for college; and as you can read in my previous post, I was busy for some other stuffs, too. But now, we will not neglect you no more, readers. We humbly ask your forgiveness that you could only see the ARTproject now! Nevertheless, we will be more than glad to have your critics and opinions; so we dearly ask you Readers to give some comments about the artwork after we posted it.

Thankyou, and enjoy!

PS: The #ARTproject "ASIAN ROSES" will be posted tomorrow, July 21st, 2013, inthis blog.

Nineteen, A Review.

I have had the time of my life.

I travelled. I achieved things. I pursued my dreams. I met new people; made some new friends. I was having fun. Looking back, for the first time in the late three years, I had a time for myself. I rediscovered myself and rebuilt new dreams.

I went to Cirebon and South Celebes. I graduated. I became the MC for 4th SEASPF International Best Practices Conference for headmasters in ASEAN and Korea. I was accepted in my dream college. I became the third best graduate in my program. I finished my Boadicea project well. I saw the real fashion backstage for the first time. I became Lady Gaga in my prom and won the best costume. I spent a lot of time with my family. I did things for myself. I had fun.

And I think, I have changed.

Travelling and escaping the routines of my life, enjoying myself for a moment, totally gave me something. In the late three years I worked, almost 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. Then, it came to me a realization: I have been overworked. Yes, I was having fun; but still, I took no rest in pursuing my targets. Even though I achieved many things from those works I had done, I neglected so many other things. I forgot my need to relax; to enjoy my time with my friend, with my family... To simply just have fun and don't care.

So I took a break, and that was it... I simply have fun...

And now I am nineteen.

It is funny how those travels and have-funs were the ones which strucked me with this realization. I have to grow up. I am not a teenager anymore; I am going to take my first steps to become a young adult. I can't just following the flows of life, take things for granted, like life is merely a game, as I have no more excuses. Being an adult, I realized, is about treating your environment with responsibility. To deal with reality; to not solely dreaming. To take care of your life, your family, your friends.

Life is not going to be easier from this point. But I know I am not moving forward if I am just standing still in fright.

So I am taking my first steps. I will take the chances and risks ahead. I am ready to work hard, to study well; to achieve many more things and accomplished many more works. I am ready to start taking my responsibilties. I know that there will always a possibility that I failed in anything I will be doing in the future; but I know that it doesn't matter for now. What important is what I am doing in the present, and it is trying. And I am eager -- and willing -- to try.

So, hello, world, and hello, nineteenth. It is nice to meet you. You see, I am still green in this business, so I will need a lot of your help and cooperation in this business. Don't worry, I am as excited as you are to work in this matter. So be good to me and may God bless us.

Yogyakarta, July 15th, 2013.

Kata Jantera Kepada Ruang.

Kata Jantera Kepada Ruang.

A Poetry.

Seandainya hati adalah lentera, maka yang aku butuhkan adalah padam dan merehatkan terang.

Aku lelah oleh nyalamu, kobarmu.

Bukan berarti kutolak cahaya; semata rasa bayangan tatkala dijilat jantera.

Aku lilin di ruang gelap. Nyalaku bukan bagi siapa-siapa. Bukan bagi lalat di tepi jendela; maupun mendung di kap lampu.

Aku jantera, menyala untuk menunggu, di lubuk kelam, di jantung senyam.

Jadi, biar kutinggal ruang ini gelap, dan meletakkan penat kobar barang sejenak...

Yogyakarta, 12 Juli 2013.