BUANASENI

Title: Metallica Craze (A series of 4 potraits and 6 album covers)
Medium: Computer Graphics (Microsoft Paintbrush)
Artist: Johan Ishak
Time/Date: {Date and time not recorded}, 1993
Place of creation: South Yarra, Australia
www.buanaseni.blogspot.com


URING the summer of 1993, between the end of the First Year 2nd Semester and the flight back to Malaysia, I was a young punk working late nights at a Pizza Parlour in Prahran trying to save enough money to pay for the air ticket as well as for my very first electric guitar (Daion). There wasn't much to do when I'd completed my daily routine of work other than sleeping or watching cricket test matches between the West Indies and the Aussies. So, I explored computer graphics - None of those complicated Auto CADs or Corel Draw - It was simply Microsoft Paintbrush!

What do I draw? well, I was wearing a Metallica T-Shirt with the images of the band members James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich, Kirk Hammett and Jason Newstead,.... and was listening to Metallica CDs. Naturally, that became my first experimental material. So, I did it, bitmap by bitmap for each of these images appearing on this blog - each took around 8 hours or so. That sort of occupied my summer, in between working hours and cricket test matches. So I discovered my ability in Computer Graphics - well its not that hard really, just zoom in and work on it like a graph net with X and Y axis - you just need patience. (Note: ....by the way, please give me my due recognition! I can already hear people saying "this must have been done via scanners". I kid you not, I actually plagarised every bitmap. It took me approximately 8 hours for each piece ok!)


Just to give a bit of a background on these images; this one right here is the album cover for Metallica's first album "Kill 'Em All", a debut which was quite controversial because they kicked out their guitarist, Dave Mustaine, and replaced him with Kirk Hammett, a padawan to a guitar legend, Joe Satriani. Dave subsequently found Megadeth.


The next image above is their 2nd album "Ride the Lightning". Now this put Metallica way at the top of Heavy Metal list with its dramatic and magnificent "Fade to Black". The entire transformation from the speed metal type Kill 'Em All album to a more melodramatic heavy metal that emphasises Metal not in speed form was apparent in Ride the Lightning but perfected in the 3rd album "Master of Puppets".

I actually started my graphics attempt with the cover for Master of Puppets, which is my favourite heavy metal album of all time and of course, my favourite song is and will always be Master of Puppets. I think this album is the legacy of Cliff Burton before he departed to hell - a truly influential dude on Metallica's music landscape. Not to mention, the album cover is superb - image right at the top - have chosen this image to lead the saga in this particular blog as it was my first computer graphics attemp and I must say, one of the most difficult one!


The last album which really continued the Metallica traits is the above "...and Justice for All". But this one made it possible for the band members to be regarded as the most respectable and skillful heavy metalists around with Lars kicking double paddles like the speed of tongue vibrating and Hetfield's crunchy single repeated strokes of rhythms complemented by Hammett's mature solo and blending of bass by Newstead linking the beat, rhythm and melody.


In my opinion, the Black Album (above) and whatever subsequent to that are totally off tangent (referring to the Black Album, Load, Reload & St. Anger) from the mainstream Metallica traditional traits; except for, the latest "Death Magnetic" which sort of resurrected the old Metallica spirit with its new basist re-living the Cliff Burton era.

I didn't really got the time to continue the graphics for the rest of the album subsequent to the Black Album - as you can see, my attempt on the cover for Load is far from complete - I stopped there as it was time for me to leave university and I had no access to computers for a very long time......

Title: Ikan
Medium: Photography
Photographer: Johan Ishak
Time/Date: {Date and time not recorded}, 1999
Place of creation: Pasar Seksyen 6, Shah Alam
www.buanaseni.blogspot.com

KAN Keli, Ikan Tilapia, Ikan Haruan, Ikan Semilang, Ikan Kerisi, Ikan Belut, Ikan Sepat, Ikan Pelaga Siam, Ikan Puyu, Ikan Jenahak, Ikan Senohong, Ikan Gelama, Ikan Senangin, Ikan Merah, Ikan Kakap, Ikan Kurau, Ikan Tamban, Ikan Mackerel, Ikan Tongkol, Ikan Sardin, Ikan Bawal Putih, Ikan Bawal Merah, Ikan Bawal Hitam, Ikan Bawal Tambak, Ikan Terubuk, Ikan Parang, Ikan Barrymundi, Ikan Kerapu, Ikan Emas, Ikan Koi, Ikan Carp, Ikan Tenggiri, Ikan Jerung, Ikan Paus, Ikan Lumba-Lumba, Ikan Salmon, Ikan Dory, Ikan Whitting, Ikan Duyung, Ikan Yu, Ikan Barakuda, Ikan Cencaru, Ikan Kembong, Ikan Temenung, Ikan Bilis, Ikan Guppy, Ikan Patin, Ikan Arwana, Ikan Golden Dragon, Ikan Kelisa, Ikan Jelawat, Ikan Lampam Jawa, Ikan Tapah, Ikan Oscar, Ikan Kaloi, Ikan Sebelah, Ikan Pari, Ikan Raja, Ikan Selar Kuning, Ikan Marlin Biru, Ikan Marlin Hitam, Ikan Marlin Putih, Ikan Marlin Silver, Ikan Marlin Loreng, Ikan Marlin Kapak, Ikan Rainbow Trout, Ikan Yellow Fin Tuna, Ikan Blue Fin Tuna, Ikan Wahoo, Ikan Mahi Mahi, Ikan Pedang, Ikan Terbang, Ikan Buntal, Ikan Todak, Ikan Taylor, Ikan Silver Bream, Ikan Trevalis, Ikan Siakap, Ikan Duri, Ikan Toman, Ikan Toman Bunga, Ikan DBKL, Ikan Ubi, Ikan Piranha, Ikan Belida, Ikan Barb, Ikan Belachak, Minyak Ikan, Kari Ikan, Ikan Masak Asam Pedas, Ikan Pindang, Ikan Goreng, Ikan Salai, Ikan Kering, Telur Ikan, Sup Ikan, Sambal Tumis Ikan, Ikan Bakar, Ikan Tiga Rasa, Ikan Kicap, Satay Ikan, Jabatan Perikanan, Clown Fish, Angel Fish, Star Fish, Tiger Fish, Cat Fish, Cuttlefish, Sword Fish, Sail Fish, Fish and Chips, Fish Fingers, Fish Balls, Fish Cake, Filet O' Fish, Ocean Catch, Grilled Fish, Sushi, Sashimi, Laurence Fishburne, Shell Fish, Selfish, Ikang, Ikano ......

Title: Pisang
Medium: Photography
Photographer: Johan Ishak
Time/Date: {Date and time not recorded}, 1999
Place of creation: {Place not recorded}
www.buanaseni.blogspot.com

ISANG Mas, Pisang Mas Besar, Pisang Mas Kampong, Pisang Mas Air, Pisang Mas Sagura, Pisang Rastali, Pisang Raja Udang, Pisang Raja, Pisang Tanduk, Pisang Tanduk Raja, Pisang Embun, Pisang Abu, Pisang Abu Keling, Pisang Abu Baru, Pisang Montel, Pisang Berangan, Pisang Nipah, Pisang Awak, Pisang Nangka, Pisang Lang, Pisang Relong, Pisang Lemak Manis, Pisang Masak Hijau, Pisang Cavendish, Pisang Bulin, Pisang Minyak, Pisang Minyak Laut, Pisang Serendah, Pisang Buai, Pisang Mundam, Pisang Bunga, Pisang Jelai Bunga, Pisang Perak, Pisang Cina, Pisang Amping, Pisang Kapal, Pisang Keling, Pisang Seribu, Pisang Kapas, Pisang Kari, Pisang Kelat Jambi, Pisang Kelat Keling, Pisang Lidi, Pisang Khaki, Pisang Merah, Pisang Teratai, Pisang Putar, Pisang Susu, Pisang Talang, Pisang Siam, Roti Pisang, Kek Pisang, Pengat Pisang, Pisang Goreng, Pisang Salai, Pisang Rebus, Kari Pisang, Jantung Pisang, Daun Pisang, Pokok Pisang, Banana Split, Banana Republic, Bananas in Pyjamas, Persatuan Pisang Antarabangsa .......

Title: The Trio
Medium: Oil on Canvas
Dimension: Each panel at 50cm X 20cm
Artist: Johan Ishak
Time/Date: {Time not recorded}, 12 Feb 2006
Place of Creation: Chiswick, London
Current Location: This work is no longer in existence as it has been transformed into Asma'ul Husna
www.buanaseni.blogspot.com

HIS is my 3rd attempt of oil on canvas. Many painters explored the idea of multiple pieces to a story when painting. Well, this is my exploration. Three pieces rectangular canvases with the same motives, each complement each other for a complete appreciation - thus requiring all three to be hung together side by side on the wall. Unlike my other oil on canvas work, this one has no colour mixing nor blending tones. This is simply a two-flat-colour painting, beige for the background and dark brown for the plant shoots.

There is no story to this piece. It has no meaning to be interpreted. It is simply my attempt to plagarise a painting displayed in a Home Decor magazine for which my wife fell in love with. We decided to have the painting hung on the wall at home to match the colour scheme of our lounge, i.e. beige-white neo-classical look. I haven't really given a name to this work but for this blog, I think, it is most appropriate to call it "THE TRIO"

Title: Nasi Kandar Kampung Melayu
Medium: Photography
Photographer: Johan Ishak
Time/Date: {Date and time not recorded}, 1999
Place of creation: Penang
www.buanaseni.blogspot.com

ASI literally means rice, a staple food of the Far-East-Oriental and Kandar is the act of carrying goods on the shoulders - a short description of food sold by traders carrying buckets of rice and curries on their shoulders, though you don't get to see this anymore (hence the photograph being a premised establishment of Nasi Kandar hawker).

Nasi Kandar has been a phenomenal attraction to Penang for many years. This is a perfect example of culture assimilation as a result of immigration policies introduced by the colonial masters (Portugese, Dutch & British) of the Malay Peninsula. This is typical of the development in the straits settlement such as Malacca and Temasek (Singapore) since the trading days of the Malacca Entreport Empire in the 1500's where Indians, Chinese, Arabs and the Malay-Indo travellers travelled via sea to meet and trade.

This combination of steamed white rice and various curry dishes took its origin from the Indian taste evolusionised into the Malay environment. A legacy of the Jawi Peranakan or "Mamak" (Malay-Indian descendants predominantly Muslims). Unlike its counterpart, the Malay-Chinese "Baba Nyonya" sweet sour hot chilli dishes, Nasi Kandar offers a unique explosion of spices on the taste butts - a blended sensation of cloves, anise stars, cinnamon sticks, cardamom pods (together referred to as "Empat Sekawan" or the Friendship of Four); as well as fennel, cumin, mustard seeds, onions, garlics, chillies, tamarind and a whole lot of other spices cooked with veggies, fish, meat or poultry.

These spices seemed to have been the Gold commodities for the Europeans as food preservatives. In the absence of a refrigerator 500 years ago, spices were regarded as the new age technology equal to that of the mummification preservatives of the Eqyptians - a technology sufficiently advanced to have pursuaded the Europeans to invade the East, inclusive of India, the Malay Peninsula, surrounding Islands of Indonesia-Philippines and Indo-China.

Referring back to the culture assimilation, Nasi Kandar is accepted by a whole wide range of ethnic group in the Malay Peninsula namely Malay, Indian and Chinese. So you do get these various ethnic groups to venture into food business that involves Nasi Kandar - hence the existence of Nasi Kandar Kampung Melayu, Malay for "Malay Villagers' Nasi Kandar".