Inspired by the 30 sec speech of Bryan Dyson, Coke’s former CEO. This was my first attempt in animating text using after effects and I am hooked on the program! It took me about one full day to get the project done due to learning the program at the same time. Overall I really enjoy editing this piece hope to utilize it again in the future
An art piece inspired by my own ideology in conjunction to L.A Ideology
An art I piece that i created based on a concept of what I consider sacred / profane in my life
SYNOPSIS
Surprisingly enough, my story about what I find sacred and profane starts with the movie Back to the future. I remember as a kid, growing up in Indonesia, watching that movie over and over and somehow through that- the “AMERICAN DREAM” came alive in my mind. I always had a desire to live here after that, and America became to me sort of a magical place. Many years after watching that movie, at the age of 18 I moved here. It was supposed to be a 3 month stay, but has turned into a 12 year stay at this point-basically my adult life has been lived out here. As a teen I was involved in hard-core drugs, and my dad brought me here to give me a new chance at life. From that move, what I have found to be SACRED, really has come to life. I found faith in Jesus, my wife of 6 years, and the joy of my life my 3 year old son (who somehow has blonde hair) and the opportunity to pursue my passion in the arts. All of these things are what I have found to be sacred in my life.
So, that leads me to a recent experience I had with immigration when traveling back to the US-from my home of indonesia. Now, some of you may not know, but Indonesia has the largest Muslim population in the world. I had traveled home with my wife and son for my sisters wedding, and when coming back through immigration, that which I held as sacred (basically my life here) was profaned.
Let me tell you this as well, that I have always done things legally as far as immigration is concerned, having the proper visas, married a citizen, had my green card for 6 years, etc etc etc. But because I hold an Indonesian passport (us passports are only issued to citizens, and green card holders are not considered citizens), I was pulled into a room and questioned. Now, that may not sound like that big of a deal to some, some would say that immigration is just doing a good job. But when their “good job” touched my life personally -that which you hold sacred-basically my life here, and the thought that they could have total authority to rip all of my dreams from me – I felt PROFANED.
The fact that they only saw me as an Indonesian man, and not an 18 year old kid with a dream, with a hope that had been placed in me as a kid watching back to the future, I felt profaned. That which I held as sacred was being touched. My heritage is actually chinese-Indonesian, and They didn’t know that most chinese Indonesians are christians, they just knew I held an Indonesian passport. They didn’t know anything about me, they just knew I “ fit the profile” right. They threatened all I hold sacred, and it is because of that scenario that I decided to go ahead and get my US citizenship. I willl be sworn in as a US citizen on August 20th, just a few weeks away. You see, I hold this life that God has given me to be so sacred, that I don’t ever want some immigration officer to have the authority to touch it, not with any real affect, ever again.
Identifying the Art:
1. The 101179 represents me, my identity-it is my birth date.
2. The shadow of the numbers is actually the colors and design of the indonesian flag-red and white. The thickness of the lettering shows my history, my depth, my roots.
3. Obviously the imprint of the US flag on the front symbolizes the american imprint on my life.
4. The immigration logo colored in black and white symbolizes how I felt profaned in that they could just peel away my life if they wanted.
5. The coloring of the logo symbolizes how they could have stolen the life that I hold sacred, devoid of color etc
The splatters of color symbolizes life-vibrant and my many sacred experiences here that have given me so much life.
Hope you enjoy the story. Peace!
-Steve-
Since the beginning of 2010 the rush of technology have already emerged more aggressively in comparison to 2009. Its an unstoppable force called innovation. To highlight a few, we have seen the emergence of iPad, iphone 4, Android, HTML 5, and CSS 3. As the most recent event that caught my attention is Google’s newest project called Google Chrome OS (Operating System) which is the extension of Google Chrome browser that was launched in the late of 2009. Chrome OS goal is to be an open source internet platform that attempts to provide “Simplicity, Speed, and Security” to the everyday user of the web that regularly check emails, web browsing, search info, etc. It will be the first thing you see when the computer is switched on without having to locate the web browser. Furthermore, unlike the OSX or Windows OX, where the majority of data are stored in the hard-drive, the Chrome OS will implement a “Cloud Computing” to store data. At this stage Netbooks are the target markets, available to consumers in the second half of 2010.
While this may sound very exciting and progressive there are certainly a question of security and to what extent do we really want to expose all of our information. Decide for yourself! Below are You Tube videos that shows the different aspect of Google Chrome OS or to find out more info click on Google Blog or Chrome OS sites. Enjoy and any comments are welcome!
Peace
-Steve-
Illustration element: Manhattan, NYC
illustration element: the beach
illustration element: the wall and the pavement
illustration element - the portable storage
illustration element - the portable storage door
Illustration element - VW Toureg
photo illustration assembled
The Final Completion
Original Book Cover - Back and Front
Book Cover Redesign - back and front page
Kids Theme Chocolate Crunch
Chocolate Crunch - Energy Bar Inspired
Chocolate Crunch - Fine Chocolate Inspired
On a recent typography class, we were assigned to design an imaginary chocolate bar design. The idea was to make the typography the focal point with an added design elements. I like to keep things simple so, when faced with the challenged of designing a typographic based design, I immediately work everything else from the point of view of the typography. So Enjoy and any comments are welcome!
peace
/steve
Three days ago I was shuffling the external hard drive and I stumbled upon this long forgotten image that I took in Nov, 2006 for one of my portfolio pieces. A good friend of mine, Jannelle Althoff was kindly willing to volunteered her time to model for me. Then shortly came up an invitation from the Mosaic community to contribute for the 2010 SHE magazine with the theme of sacrifice gesturing open hands. Since I already have the image with an open hands captured, I decided to composite the image in a new styling and background for submission. Here is what I come up with. Enjoy! Comments are always welcome!
- Steve-
The Original Image
Life and Sacrifice - Ver 1
Life and Sacrifice - Ver 2
I came across an interesting article recently in the NY Times Media / Advertising section. It talks about the possible decline in the photo industry. I could definitely relate to some of the scenarios being conveyed, specifically the story of Mr. Eich. It’s a tricky way to make a living when one is starting out, and the income indeed is inconsistent! However, it can be a rewarding path if the right opportunity comes along. I don’t deny the difficulty of the current photo industry climate, however, regardless of how the photo industry evolves, I still feel a strong commitment to the profession and continue to find ways to be inspired creatively. In fact, it can be a good time to do many things that can beneficial in the long run. Things like developing your own portfolio, or maybe pursuing business courses, etc. Whatever it takes to sustain yourself creatively and for your business. As for myself, I’ve been pursuing additional skills in web design & interactive media while the economy is slowed. Does it mean I’m giving up photography? Far from it! As an artist/entrepreneur, I believe it wouldn’t hurt to be more versatile and flexible, with the goal to hopefully enhance my future career. Any thought and comment are welcome!
Click Here to view the full article and or click the image below.
After being in Asia for about 6 weeks, my final experience was the Singapore Flyer. Now, as I have said in the past, Singapore itself is one of my favorite destinations in the world. I have traveled to this tiny country multiple times in my life, and this trip I have seen the country truly developing in a way I had never noticed before. As I drive to my home from the airport, on the left side of the highway is a huge ferris wheel structure. It immediately grabs your attention, and makes everyone say “What’s that” (including my 3 year old son). So needless to say, my family and I had to go. Upon first entering the sphere (about the size of a small school bus-there were about 20 people in ours), you watch your step carefully as the pod does not come to a complete stop. Once on, everyone scrambles what they think is the best seat. Little did any of us know, that the whole ride the “best seat” actually is a standing position. The pod next to ours is a dining car, set up for a romantic dinner (quite nice). As the pod ascends into the air, everyone ends up pressed to the glass amazed at the view.
My family owns an apartment that is on the 11th floor of their building, but I have to be honest, that is the highest I have ever been in Singapore. I actually never have seen this amazing place from a birds eye view. Again, the overly planned, micro organized city planners do not let my senses down. THE VIEW IS STUNNING. I can see the older parts of the city(settled by the British), contrasted next to the ultramodern sky scrapers. I am full again with this city. Seeing as I am an urban junkie as it is, I am filled up to see the city that was once a jungle. The Flyer has become a must see for myself, and will likely continue to be a part of my future trips to this teeny tiny microtropolis of Singapore. I hope you enjoy seeing the photos as much as I enjoyed taking them. I also hope they inspire you to travel and see the world! Enjoy life
// steve sutanto.
singapore flyer, off the ground, ferris wheel, texture, singapore, cityscape
