Creative Exploration, Transformers and Life Updates

Neu Work Updates



It’s been a very incredible month for me. I would like to wrap-up my January with amazing stuff in my latest entry. I would like to thank everyone who had been so helpful and supportive. My prop goes to friends of Flickr group ‘KLickrs’, Facebook and in real life who I couldn’t done it without your best advices and warm greetings.

Featured Interview this year!

I had the opportunity to be featured in two great art & design portal which is NOISE from Australia and After5Motion, a design portal run by my friend Vivian. Check out interview one; NOISE Artist Interview and interview two; After5Motion I was also invited to several upcoming exhibitions.



I will be participating in ‘GET MOOOVING MOVABLE ART 2008’, 2nd March, 2008 at Palate Palette, Kuala Lumpur. I was also request from Mr. Jay Lim to do a dance performance for that night, so those who’s curious to know how I move my freestyle dance, can come to our event!

A.R.T 2008, Shah Alam
My first serious involvement with the Sifoo Design Community together with ‘Layar Tanchap’ and ‘Click-A-Child’ (charity). I will announce the update for this event soon, meantime I’m coordinating few stuff in terms of design with the team headed by Imran Ijabar. I hope I am able to commit this task. I really want to help them as much as possible.

Photography & Creative Collaboration



Besides my great photo shooting activities with my Flickr KLickr group, I managed to create two (2) artwork during Thaipusam. Both of my digital work is a collaboration between notable photographers like Johan Sopie (which I had published earlier in my blog), K:REW, Syahrin Aziz. I would like to complete this into 7 images and later I will start with collective collaboration with fellow local and international designers. This is the year I need to start back my creative works after last year lest effort in contributing towards the scene.



I was invited by a very, very good friend of mine, K:REW at his studio to work on his new year team. He mentioned; “Oh what a treat it is to be working with Muid. Not only is he mad, he's brilliantly mad. I'm such a fan of his work and what he stands for. We need more people like him. Period”. Truly honored and appreciate for such valuable testimonial from him. Feel free to check out his great shot of me in his set, HeadSpace. So much to thanks K, I’m speechless!



By the way, I just submitted a photo entry to JPG magazine and would like to kindly ask you guys to vote for my photos to be published for the upcoming issue. Your vote counts!

Vote here: http://www.jpgmag.com/photos/437852

Life Updates

I would like to feature my latest entry of my fresh new poetry of 2008 for the upcoming Moetry: Volume One (Illustrated PDF book).

Berarak Bersama
Copyright © 2008 Muid Latif.

Disetiap sudut masa dan ruang kau mendamaikanku,
Gemilang jiwaku dibawa persona dirimu,
Membangkitkan semangat daya dan juang,
Untuk terus aku maju langkah ke alam semesta.

Kaulah aturan sumberku,
Yang memberi seribu kekuatan merentasi aral,
Agar kau dan aku terus berarak mekar,
Selagi masa berada di ruangan bima sakti.


Rescue Me
Copyright © 2008 Muid Latif.

From this crowded surroundings I seek you,
I saw you stood still but could not reach you.
I came to know my devastating truth so I broke down.

Went out of my mind that I could no longer breathe,
The hope that I found before was fading away,
Then people became fear of me and shred my door.

I became a cold sculpture surrounded by deep water,
an art piece nice to set eyes on but fear to touch,
my heart was wrecked without soul.

All of a sudden someone tosses me a penny,
With a wish I reminisce beautiful years I once had,
I felt affectionate but only for a moment.

Will someone rescue me from such devastation?
Will a fairy grand me my wish to be able to live again?
Will I ever be free again?


Am I A Substance?
Copyright © 2008 Muid Latif.

Lately I felt in fear and apprehension,
As the bitter breeze batters me,
A part of me begin to fall.

A reckless heart wails with agony,
For what this heart yet feel is nonentity,
My endurance weakens and became blurry.

Absurd it may sound but I’m blunt,
Through an ambiguous mind,
Integrity begins to wonder.

The reality seems to be unbalance,
For a soul condense faraway distance.
Set in a parallel creating solitary.


Some Nobility

I met Azmil Mustapha, one of Malaysia notable actor who played Ali Setan back in the 80’s and been seeing him around in early 2001 when I did my practical in RTM. He came to MDeC last week, Friday the 25th to share his experience and journey of his migration to Syria. Salahudin, one of great Muslim warrior was buried in Syria. In his knowledge sharing session, there’s such amazing story that I heard from him including how different the Muslim practice their religion compared to Malaysian Muslim. From his experience, ours are very conservative and selective. We always have to define within different (4) Mazhab (School of thoughts), even perform their solat according to different coordinates. He told us when one of the Imam from Masjid Al-Haram to our national mosque, many things happened. In Syria, Muslim live in peace with Christians and the Muslim is not conservative as the Malaysian Muslim. Over there, everything heart for Allah and doesn’t have to be particular about which group you are from. Other Mazhab can get along with one another and respect each other.

Ours are slightly different. I was surprised to find out how complex the Malaysian Muslims practice their ways. Somehow I do find it is very discriminating to the same kind. No wonder they cannot get a long with each other. Well, to prove further, I remember having a solat in TTDI Mosque, there is this one guy sitting next to me with such great reciting and later perform solat. And you know what happen? After his ‘doa’, he just ‘blastoff out’ of the mosque without shaking hands with people next to him which include me and a pakcik next to him. Some of the Muslim in this country is not strong in terms of living harmony as we see, all are corrupted with such prejudice mind, because we all answer the same ‘amin’ after the Imam, but we never turn to our next person to give greetings or not even to smile. It’s pathetic. It’s like, "oh, I only solat for Allah, but to h**l with everyone around me”.

Update (25/2): Thanks to Mr. Aziph Mustapha for dropping by. I would like to share his input on my recent blog:

1. You have a right to your opinion, but to assume what a brother Muslim is thinking in his heart may be too much. He may have a myriad of different reasons for rushing out of the Mosque, and we must respect his right and keep good faith or think positive thoughts (husnu-zon) about what others are doing. Assume the best, not the worst of him.

2. Though greeting the person to the left and to the right of us after prayer is widely practised here, it did not come from authentic sunnah of the Prophet SAW. The authentic sunnah is to greet one another when first meeting, not at the end of the prayer. Since I am not a scholar, allow me to quote one:

a. "We do not know of a single Companion or Righteous Salaf, may Allaah be pleased with them all, that they used to shake hands with those on their left and right and give the tidings of the prayer being accepted after completing the prayer. If any one of them would have done this then it would have reached us, even it be via a weak isnaad and the People of Knowledge would have quoted it those who delved into every ocean and explored their deepest depths and derived from them many rules and regulations and did not neglect a single aspect of the Sunnah." ['Tamaam al-Kalaam fee Bid`iyyah al-Musaafaha ba`d as-Salaam' [pp. 24-25] and 'al-Masjid fee al-Islaam' [pg. 225]. - from Allahuakhbar.in

Thanks for allowing me to understand more about sunnah in greeting. This surely clarify my perception on what I had mentioned earlier. For more information on Syria, visit Wikipedia here.

Happy Birthday Mama Yatie!

We celebrated mum’s 51th birthday yesterday in Sri Petaling Driving Range Seafood Restaurant. Kak Yong (my eldest sister) brought Häagen-Dazs® Ice-cream Cake Together with a very nice present. We always go there for casual dinner due to their famous and amazing Butter Prawn. The best so far in any Chinese Restaurant.

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Waiting for more orders..

Check out our video:

Our family dinner / celebration video taken from my Samsung Blackjack (Much gracias Av).


Transformers Fever



Escaping from all my work stress and to fulfill my satisfaction of my childhood days, I finally regain my consciousness to rebuild back the collection I have. I had recently added few Auto-bots in the family including Grimlock, Jetfire, Rachet and both version of Jazz from the Transformers Movie including a pirated but amazing Transformers Powermaster Double Dealer (which I bought for RM19.90 in Selayang Mall) and the latest G1 Rachet and Ironhide (thanks to Wilson for selling this in eBay!), plus Metroplex! Yeay!

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Mubarak: 'Are we seeing but not looking?'

Quote:

During Ramadan, Muslims are also expected to put more effort into following the teachings of Islam as well as refraining from lying, stealing, anger, envy, greed, lust, sarcastic retorts, backbiting, and gossip.
- wikipedia.

I'm certainly sure that Ramadan is a month not only to fast on food, but also to do more good-doings in our lives, 'behave' ourselves from our almost daily routine, including not to 'poke' any parts of our body (if you know what I mean) and not to curse. As for me, it's definitely a challenge especially when it comes to driving on the road. I can be a humble, patient driver but once a slow-ass driver tried to irritate me, then I would have a little 'concern'. Well, I actually do get used to it now and then, especially when I listen to Astrud Gilberto or Erykah Badu while driving. But despite all that, commuting from my place to my work in Cyberjaya definitely drained me out, seriously. I felt bad for not be able to have energy like I used to do back in the days, where I go for tarawih (muslim prayers each nite for Ramadan) and have more time then ever. I guess it may be the process of age or my digestion disorder syndrome that I'm still having. Maybe someway it had effected my health condition.


My current Facebook room. Send some items to my room. My new facebook friends also includes Hillman Curtis, Niko Stumpo, Andi Rianto (Indonesian talented producer, Jeff Ooi and much more. Come join us!

Well, normally after my iftar (and supper), I will be online checking my emails and my recent addiction to Facebook (FB) due to it's amazing architecture information (a.i) and it's usability. I do watch TV (National Geographic, Animal Planet) or chat with my sister or my parents. I can't sleep, especially if I had meal, at least not in 1 hour.

Work Updates

Creative Commons Malaysia

I had recently been active (online) in two groups for Creative Commons Malaysia. One is the flickr MyCC group and CCM on Facebook (FB). By the way, I heard Microsoft is trying to buy the famous social networking, Facebook.I hope FB won't be having so many restrictions, bugs and so many patches updates later if Microsoft to buy facebook. I remember, when Hotmail was bought by Microsoft, I receive more spams.

Back to CC, I'm planning to have a Creative Commons Day in November, since too much things to prepare. The merchandising might took a while, while I have to carefully select good people to join my talk / workshop. I will soon give a talk and demonstrate on how to get creative with Creative Commons. Info will be posted in this blog soon.

As a (young) photographer.

I've been exposed to photography over 3 years but this year is in fact the most serious time I got involved. I believe photography is another great escapism and challenge. I work with great people for the industry and they had taught me a lot. I remember working with few professional photographers like Jeffrey Tan, Ted Adnan and other photographer from advertising agency for some shots in their works and others. In the past few months, I have the opportunity to attend some workshop and talks that was given by Zainal Halim (Reuters) and manage to watch together with my friends from the Flickr Malaysia group of an amazing documentary of James Nachtwey, War Photographer.


Another paid talent work after experimental shot for Landrover Malaysia, this is my third work as a talent. To those who told how ugly I was back in my college years, this is the ugly boy you see in some products and ads.

Last two weeks, we (me, Salmi & Abby) had a slumber party at our place (despite me being the only guy, doesn't make me an alien), besides having late night snacks on our iftar, I took the opportunity to explore lights with my photography (knowledge). I'm pretty excited to get myself serious in this. Edri had also offer me to sell some of her lens and hopefully to get 3 hot items by this year.


This is my sister Abby, yesterday was her 25th birthday (25th Sept) and I'm celebrating her birthday together with our friends at Atilia's gig in (Raja) Chulan square, this Saturday. Feel free to join or drop by Abby's blog. Happy birthday girl! I hope in this year had taught you the meaning of life and career survival. Keep up the good work and always trust your talent and gift that you have.

L.A.M.U, Let Arts Move You

I believe this time it would be official that I will be joining the LAMU project with KTM Malaysia where me, Shieko and the rest of the artist will have the opportunity to showcase our artworks in KTM Commuter trains and even the KL Sentral KTM Commuter stations. I believe this is a great opportunity for me to get back and connect with my art skills, which I had abandon since Merdeka this year.

Feel free to visit LAMU @ DMP here.

Life Updates: If I hold a hand again, it will not be me, it will be free.

I am not invisible, because others let me see what’s in their heart,
I am not fragile, because I can be strong to stand on my feet,
I am not evil, because I help people in anyway I can so I learn my mistakes,
I am not humble, because some times I need to brag to build my confidence,
I am not a saint, but a sinner to my unperfected existence,
I am not a free, but I let others free by doing the right thing,
I am not safe, because my life will be in the hands of the Al-Mighty,
I am not solitude, because I have people who love me.

Getting myself back stabbed has been a natural story, but not to the recent 3-4 months ago. Adding to that, even 'another person' have dark deadly revenge on me and try to find a way to threaten my friends and family, there are also few individuals (hint: ex-employer) who's bound to take me down due to his impulsive decision. If he was kind, respectful and humble, he would have been a good friend, and a lot of great opportunity would roll in his way. Out of all people, they are people who I had been close to, and they are the people that I had help to build their motivation and support their career or company. It’s the time I’ve been pushed away and they thought I was weak. The case I’m in now is very clear and I will know one thing I am certainly sure of what to do and what solution I can think off. I will rise from my fall, I will stand up and work even harder and make new friends who see my potential and support my battle for survival. I will keep moving on and I will never look back.

To the recent art scene ‘fanatics’ who had been questioning my seldom appearance in exhibitions and events, I’m not dead. I’ve been in full creative practice to ensure I will go further, upgrading my skill sets to keep up with others, and the trends. Like everyone else, I have a lot of commitment and I choose to concentrate on most priority in my career and family.


Notification: You got a friend! One (1) Unread Message


Photos by the talented Eka.


From left (counter-clockwise): Muid, Johan, Edri, Ena, Mizie, JingYing, Victor, Wira, Grom Airess, Magnus (Azami), Prakash, Abby & Eka.

This is not the kind of buddies that you like to meet once in blue moon that says hello and bye-bye. I had made a very strong relationship with a bunch of low-profile, humble and friendly people from Flickr group, they kept me warm and let me be myself, without putting a barrier or walls between them. They are my new family and they had help push my small limit and talent in photographer one step further. I thank to all my KL Flickr members for accepting me, rather than pushing me away. I love you guys very much and thanks for accepting me.

Catching with old friends


My new 'family'.

Last weekend on the 27th September, I managed to take my friend out for a hang out in Bangkok Jazz; Nadiah Aziz in conjunction of Abby's belated birthday in Atilia's show. It was awesome! Anyway, Nadiah has been my best friend way back when I studied in UiTM. It was the era of knowing Modestos (no pun intend), working on art projects at late nights while listening to Beatsie Boys & Prodigy, and what not. Nadiah was the only friend I am close to talk about anything. It's like whatever I had in my closet, she knows ;). We plan on meeting regularly soon.





About three days ago, I also received a message from my dear friend Noni from Penang about our upcoming reunion this December. I’m pretty excited about this because I like to meet my old friends and have a good time together. However, there are some friends from our past who always refuse to join. He likes to put a great barrier in any relationship or friendship, and that is Zamri Azizan. He questions why we need to have reunion each year. It’s not right at all. There’s no such rule on when a reunion should be made. From my observation on last year’s reunion, I’m so happy to see all of us stay together, chit-chatting, wrapping up gifts, preparing dinner and sit down together to have a nice barbecue. I guess some people don’t want to keep friendship and mutual relationship. And it’s pathetic to live alone full of negative surroundings and without people who really care and loves you.

Outro:

Last but not lease, my deepest condolence and prayer goes out to our beloved Nurin, who had been brutally abused and murdered. Visit the late Nurin's Uncle's blog here. Visit Screenshot and let's us all pray that kids can still go out at the playground.

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Have a great fasting month, and great week guys!

What Have I Done Lately?

Lately, there had been a lot of things going on in my life. This is not something positive that I usually write in this blog. Here goes..

First, I have a small problem with digestion. I cannot eat meat and have to eat less chicken and other stuff because my body cannot digest as good as those previous years. Sometimes I just throw up whatever I ate, it’s not something natural. To the extend detail, I can feel rice, or roti canai, or salad right on top of my stomach. Yes its true. I went to the doctor a couple of times and he told me I have gastric. But it seems to be more from what I know.

Second, I’m exhausted, I can’t feel the energy the way I use to bring in my life and my surrounding. One of the reason is that (I realized) I’ve been commuting from Taman Bidara, Selayang to Cyberjaya to work. And every time I got back, I felt drained out. I tried to sleep, but I couldn’t. I constantly starve. This is due to no more meat in my body; I only ate veggies, and noodle-based food like kueh teow, curry noodle and others that I can eat. Sometimes I took the risk to have nasi lemak and roti canai because I miss those foods. So, when I got home, I tried to sleep and I can’t because I have to cook or heat the food from the fridge or some hot cup noodle. Even if I sleep, my body clock will automatically shut down somewhere around 3 a.m.

Third, I have insomnia. Last two days, I haven’t sleep. I just can’t. I’m hair wired. My face look all choked up. I think too much. The news about global warming bothers me. The racism in this country bothers me. A lot of things bother me. It’s seems hard to let go of what I had in my mind.

Forth, my mum. She can’t do things like she can do, and my dad also been busy looking for more business opportunity, as he just retired from the army as a retired Colonel. Both of them in some occasion travel overseas for education trip and courses. Both of them are 'not stable' (if you know what I mean). And almost every time they gone, we have to look after the kids. I got two rascals who are addicted to Animax at Astro TV. And my brother, Hafiz is an eating machine. He loves to eat very much and always play with his pencils and imagine space ships and Naruto fighting scenes. As a brother, I have to teach them how to behave how to speak proper, surf the net and ask to read online newspapers, watch National Geographic and stuff. Usually, we have a maid to take care of things, but due to a lot of con workers agency given us so much trouble sending the wrong maid each and every time, my parents have to put the maid application on hold. I have to hang clothes, wash the dishes before I go to work. I have to make sure my little sister eat her breakfast. I’m dreadfully tired.


Visual: A booklet layout design for MDeC

Fifth is my creative gesture. I seem to lack of it, not entirely but almost. I don’t draw like I used to. I haven’t been drawing after my website launch. No new artwork. What I manage to do is to came up with a face-lift of DMP logo, and as usual, the office work.

In fact, I don’t even have the time to touch my sketchbook. I use to remember, each day or week, there’s always something new from me. Having said that, it does not jeopardize my office work. I still manage to deliver and did a good work. But in some part of my “other” work, there are some ‘kueh teow’ work that I suppose to do for Dewan Bahasa & Pustaka was not really fluid because I’ve been through a lot of obstacle and unexpected demands from them. I'm also doing a lot of Research & Development to learn and get on this AJAX thingy which was introduce by my collegue, Fauzi (Madfozi) last year. Even Kris Khaira made me to think hard about what exactly Web 2.0 meant for designers. AJAX or Web 2.0, both had existed a decade ago, only they changed the 're-brand' and was 're-invent' back by the marketing people. My solution is that I should start drawing tonight. I hope I can able to do that. I also hope to find my article and my work that had been featured in Computer Arts Magazine (UK) which had been rapidly informed by industrial friends. I just hope I can find which issue.

Sixth, my pass relationship has once again haunted me. Recently, my ex lover (whom I contact for almost 2 years on & off) send some 'word' to get back here in Malaysia and to settle down with me.. but like I said, I lost my affection due to a lot of things happen around me and I decide to focus more important things in life, and I would felt like I will be used again. To be fall in a fantasy is something I can't imagine. I know that deep somewhere left in my hearth there's love for A, but it's not as easy it can show or tell. As much as happy I am to be able to have a wonderful relationship again with A, I know that I’m only taking a big risk to be hurt more deep, and I know it’s not going to last long. There are some terms I have to accept, and it bother me. It's a big risk, because if I take the wrong step, in some ways, not only I get hurt, I know that it will drag people who I close with and my family along. I know this is not a game, though all I can see is a throw of dice, and would never exactly know the numbers, only HOPE. Just hope that a suitable number, to guide a suitable path. Regardless both of us, would be getting along together very well, but it's not just that. There's plenty of issues need to be taken care of and you, A, must know it's not as easy to see things beyond your expectations, or manipulation. How can we ever go in like this? Isn't this too much to carry such burden?

Outro:
It’s about time I seek help from you guys, in a really constructive and positive way. I can’t cope and try to be positive when all the things around me start bothering me. I’m just so tired. Really dreadfully tired. It's even worst that I picked a self-help book and trying to adapt the idea of the author. Beat stress? Learn to relax? I wonder...

Here's something to cheer for


I love Drew Barrymore in her appearance in last year's Saturday Night Live.


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when u love someone, why is it hard to let go or forget about it? some memories huh...