GARUDA

Golden, your wings shine like the sunset. Soaring above my aesthetic visionary self. A youth I never really comprehend. Station to Station, as Bowie said, going across the tree. GARUDA, they sing, the symbol of my country. GARUDA, they say, the rebirth of my art. A muse, femme fatale I would say. The embodiment of what a real Diana Couture woman is supposed to represent. An amount of charisma like no other. A true strong yet elegant figure.

The craziest part about all this is that I’m writing this in Mid February, 2016

Wake Up Calls- you’ve just graduated from High School. This concept could easily be interpreted in such various ways. Eloquently, I am basically still the person I am ages ago, I just apparently grow to be more of myself. But realistically, you’re only as good as the time frame you’re supposed to represent, based on culture.

Like a harp from the sky, a shriek like no matter, and a truly mad imagery. Like terracotta’s infusion on the bronze palate and a shine on gold. Like a glimmer under the night sky waiting for the flight at dawn. Like the golden promise of a true love’s kiss.

I remember starting The Photographic Sense at 14. I was insecure but ambitious, it’s almost like the rookie you start as in your very first Pokémon game. You’ve got a little spark of Pikachu right by you that can’t wait to thunderbolt the entire universe. Best yet, you’re ridiculously young, you can do whatever you want.

A bird has to sleep. A bird has to nest. A bird has to learn. A bird has to live under the branches before it comes for the tree. A bird must observe. A bird must comprehend. That in this lonely yet busy world – trees are only made for those who are there to simply be exceptionally one of a kind.

But today I honestly can’t be more grateful. 4 years ago I struggled as an artist to basically be the very best, to find my perspective, voice and style. To ultimately truly find out who I truly am in this vast world.

Ironically, I needed New York to realize how beautiful my culture truly is.

As an individual, there’s this veil of Circumambient about my surroundings. Yes, I’ve heard that my country is exotic, and extremely beautiful. But I didn’t come to the realization that I should be inspired by the things that are pretty much. Bali, Borobudur, Barong. Countless of cultural references spark up my mind before New York Fashion Week.

Because when a bird flies away, it will then finally truly realize the view it has of the world. How culture may be a beautiful state after a long term evolutionary guide. Because if it stays in the nest, a bird may only feed on the aromatic comfort-leading to a decay. 

Back in June, I was pretty much broken and devastated. Facing betrayal and devastation-you know, the kind of friends who take jabs on you and make it look like its your fault because they’ve got each other - yeah those kind of problems. Then there was this one night where everything basically changed.

But when the GARUDA takes flight, apparently the scavengers come to hunt. Ultimately, they come to tear you apart. They come to eat out of a rotting flesh seeking freedom and rebirth. Pulling away the beautiful feathers out of jealousy. They take away what’s not theirs. Because life is a surreal idea to them. Because in their story, dominance and creativity and blonde ambition is nothing but the traits of a villain. We live in the ends of time where everyone wants to beat everyone.

So Diana Couture, my mom’s brand and the brand I’m controlling as a PR Manager locally got the chance of a lifetime. To showcase in Couture Fashion Week New York. Since then our lives just changed. I went from Math Studies to Photographing Celebrities, Dealing with Hollywood A-listers, and basically a lot of really shady people.

And when you take that final flight, you learn. You learn more about yourself, more about the world you live in, the air you breathe, the linen you wear, and the people who’s really there for you. You learn about the lights of New York-a nest that never sleeps. You learn about delusional individuals, about people who want to use you, people who want to tear you down, people who need nothing but an advantage from you. People who simply want a taste of your success because these birds come from the same environmental nest you come from and have a hard time accepting the same food and nest we once layed on provided more to the bird who is filled with creativity, curiosity, and a craving for burning passion.

My life flash in front of my eyes. And just like that I realize

That the temple walls speak to me a story of a long lost dynasty

That the decaying bird rose above the skies to conquer the world

That you are only limited to

Yourself

You can only set your mind on things you truly want. To cast a focus on what you truly aspire to be. To cast a growth on beliefs you truly aspire to be. No words can truly describe how I felt. The 4 a.m. drive to sunset. The 1 a.m. text of artistic craving. The Jetlag. And the self realization.My country is only as beautiful as my own mindset. Beauty is a mindset and I believe in the thought of vast diversity. I believe in the beauty of the damned and the grand. I believe in……

The Photographic Sense

Photography: Reinhardt Kenneth

Designer: Diana Couture

Headpiece: G.Liem

Shoes: Syu Shu

Muse: Vicky Shu

Videography: Josephine Hardja

Hair/Make Up: Niken Xu

Stylist: Dina Eski

The 

Salem's Supreme

Misunderstood

The particular phrase seems to have labeled the “villains” in a story. Today, our generation retells the graceful stories of Maleficent, The Evil Queen, and apparently, witches who burned during the Salem trials. We live in a generation where a more tolerant environment is encouraged. Where love is presented in a wider scope of acceptance, tolerance, and an open mind.

Today, I live under the ghosts of guilt. I build a wall to defend myself through bricks of art, recognitions, and all the lavishness I apparently have. Yes, I have a family who supports me 1000%. Yes, my art will be exhibited in Paris and Melbourne in the near future. Yes, my career is going well. Yes, I have so many things to be proud of. I believe that this part of me, the part of me that lives and always strives to be the best is my superpower. My supernatural powers are my capabilities to withstand hatred with my remedies. To have my head in the clouds with a soothing spell of redemption, of knowing that I’ve made it to the higher ground. Throughout, I am capable of skills and tricks other people aren’t gifted with, and of course, everything comes with a price.

I’ve learnt coming of age the hard way. I knew I had to say goodbye, I knew I had to leave my past behind. I just never imagined it on resulting this way. When you are seemingly punished for all the things you’ve done, with it’s reasoning left untouched, but you’re instead thrown guilty rocks at. When you’re burnt at the stake like a Salem witch. Judged for the things they don’t understand.

We’re not forever. You’re not the one.

Today I rise, through the Vitalum Vitalis of my craft. Rising from the ashes to a timebomb of my own, waiting to explode to a spectrum of art on the higher ground. A dispersal of seeds of everything I’ve been through, of my journey translated into a portfolio reaching it’s ways to the best features ever. We could be the best thing ever. But now I guess it’s left with me and my art. It’s my moment to perform the seven wonders, to call upon this trial and lit all the candles and apparently, show shine in my own spark.

Nadia Nathania’s version of this post asks a question that leaves me thinking, “how does it feel like to be powerful yet feared, and due to that, punished? “. What does it feel like to constantly migrate with broomsticks, to conduct pyrokinesis, or to simply lure mankind into believing in things you demand them to believe in. How does it feel like to truly be powerful to the state where those who don’t understand view it as evil?. What does it feel like to think, breathe, and act like a hybrid, like a creature unlike men. What does it feel like to grow trees from your mind?.

Then I fall

I fall

I fall

I am not misunderstood, I simply was never meant to fit in inside a fragile society. In a society where I am seen as a threat, where people confess their jealousy to me, and where I grow insecurity out of the stability around me. I am a motion being, I need to breathe the same air as those who are constantly on the run. Apparently, those who don’t only dream, but those who actually live their dreams.

I confess my mistakes, dear Lord, for treachery, lies, and backstabbing.

So if it comes to a point where I burn down portions out of my life, where it comes to a point where I am seen as a villain, where I can’t migrate in long ocean rides or midnight swims. Where I don’t communicate with those I call dear. Where I can’t use my superpowers to be a part of their world.

I would never, ever, ever, let that define who I truly am.

Yes, I learned my mistakes. But who are you to demand me all the things I stick my heart to. There’s a difference between believing in yourself and being completely selfish. Believe it or not, sometimes I don’t really know the lines. But it comes to a point where today, I am no longer like you.

I’ve even actually been great.

So strange.

You can’t fight the friction

So I chose to not be a material of resistance.

When your feet don’t touch the ground. That is where I float right now. I am a living proof that I’ve lived another day. I drift in my own empty sea. I am in my own control. And it’s okay to be misunderstood but it’s a whole lot better setting where you feel safe of being who you are. You do not need beautiful memories corrupting your life. Your future lingers as a state that awaits for you. So instead of living in the past, simply, live for the future. Fight your way up to the top.

Salem’s Supreme appeals to those who surrounds themself in guilt today. Whatever you are, make sure you’re aiming your way to the very best. If you’re a witch, be a supreme. Even if that means you’ll have to get burnt at the stake. Succeed or die trying. Be a warrior. Never ever settle for the second best. Break free, don’t let anything hold you down. Only you can destroy yourself.

Hey Unions!

So glad to finally be posting again. My recent projects are making me feel fine as hell. I'm so glad on how my progress just keeps growing every year. So how've you been? I've got a lot of exciting news in the upcoming months ahead!. So hows life for all of you? Do leave a comment on your thoughts on the portfolio above.

See you!

THE PHOTOGRAPHIC SENSE
Salem's Supreme
Photographed by Reinhardt Kenneth
Model. Nicole King
Stylist/Assistant/Make Up Artist. Nadia Nathania
Blonde Wig. Shelley Sebastian

Black Beauty

I believe in equality

I believe in how a person shouldn’t be judged based on who they are, but based on their deeds.

Wait

I don’t even believe in judging, I believe in HAVING AN OPINION.

You see, I struggled a lot between drawing lines in between things. Whether this is right or wrong, acceptable or not acceptable, a preference or an opinion. Truth be told, I’m speaking from my experiences.

Black Beauty itself appears as an inspiration coming from Lana Del Rey’s song, “Black Beauty” from “Ultraviolence”. Her lover’s preference for darker shades is translated onto the song, and at how much she would change the world just for him.

I believe that love comes in many different shades, including Black, and Silver, and White. Which are the colors I am using as my main inspiration. I believe in a belief that we think in the sense with the presence of colors. Colors represent such a strong symbolism in our lives that they are inevitable. I believe that their shades tell stories and connotations so diverse the world itself may translate a cavern full of undiscovered writings, all thanks to the connotations appearing from the presence of colors.

Black itself appears as an enigma. A sense of a secret. I believe that some things should remain being an ambiguous thought to everyone. I believe that the world is so much more beautiful with things that remain a secret. A magnificent enigma itself being Love. I believe that love is a beautiful media. It can do no wrong, but it may lead to either a utopia or a dystopia, or even worse, a catastrophic state. This past year, I’ve seen love bearing so beautifully in shades darker than black. I believe that the love I witnessed might be a thunderstorm.

However, love and all it’s might had done one justice. This thunderstorm results in a beautiful ending. A love story filled with jealousy, betrayal, affairs, lies, indifference, and just----a solution so unexpected, a beautiful bond. I believe that the best things might come from the worst. I believe that, if you don’t have any shadows, then you’re not standing in the light. I believe that the color black has been used as a misconception at times.

To whoever reading this. It’s going to be okay, It’s gonna get better. Eventually, the black will bloom in you into an exceptional hydrangea. Roaming beautifully in the misconceptions of love under the universal galaxy, a galaxy we ourselves haven’t truly comprehend.

Silver, being a ray of light, I believe, represents the love I possess for the world itself. I am addicted to the idea of seeing the world, of leaving my footprints around the world, of being remembered by the universe when I’m long gone. To leave ambiguous remarks of conspiracies of how I lived and died. I find fascination into putting people onto a perspective viewing me as silver. Not gold. But Silver.

Why Silver?

I believe that I want to leave a lasting impression. Of being in a state where I am both strong and beautiful. How I can withstand other silver or even gold. I want to be viewed as a neutral media to inspire others. I am not gold------I am a student till the last day I breathe. I am no expert, apparently, I will never be an expert. I just am devoted to art. That, I believe, is the love I have towards the roaming glint of the galaxy.

And White.

A contrasting figure compared to the color Black. I believe that you are your worst enemy, your worst judge. That is why you are your own catalyst. You push yourself to the edge of your capabilities to make yourself a balanced state. To form yourself onto a state of belief where you are an equal proportion of an unbalanced human being. Unique to your own state. I believe that love requires that.

White itself represents the purity. The inner child. The curiosity. I believe that beauty might be found everywhere. Every, single, place. I believe that it represents memories of the past that support us, or memories of now that lightly reminds us of who we are. The love I am talking about here is not a humane expression, however a love for my craft.

I’m a rebel to the art.

I just believe in it so much

I just can’t stop.

THE PHOTOGRAPHIC SENSE

PHOTOGRAPHER.REINHARDT KENNETH

MODEL/STYLIST.DIANA PUTRI

Wow! What an expressive year we have come to an end, UNIONS!?. This post is NOT my last one, so make sure you stay tuned to my YEAR IN REVIEW post. Seeing 2014 coming to an end is definitely a huge achievement to every single one of us. I have grown so much and achieved so much, and that will only push me to growing even more. I love the craft, and will never stop. So how was your Christmas? I kinda feel numb, however emotional in the same time, idk, it wasn’t my best Christmas but hey Christmas is more than just about a day, right?. Anyways, do you guys have any plans for New Year’s Eve? I’m going to BALI!(do contact me on instagram if you’re going there too!xo)

The Odd Adventures of Caitlin Doyle

Botticelli Babe

I find beauty to be something highly overrated yet underrated

The idealism of beauty being overrated

And the true meaning of beauty being underrated

You see, there are just phases in our life when we are pressured to look like a certain type of look. To be in a shape, or in a structure where commercially, it is what is considered to be a “positive” look. I believe that as long as you believe in your look to match who you are-not out of self pity but out of self confidence ; I believe that when you can rock that, then you are ready to rock the world.

On the other hand, I believe that body-shaming is something that we all should eliminate. It is just….repulsive. The other day I went to this party of a good friend of mine, and I know how much she has worked her ass off to get in shape—again the shape she demands. It might come out of the idea of beauty being overrated and pressuring, but, meh, let’s skip that for now on. Ok so there’s this guy who were told to give wishes to the birthday girl, LIVE, in front of everyone(yes it was a huge party). The only wish he gave her was for her to lose weigh. I was just like

What

The

Actual

F---.

Ok, first things first I know her and I know how much she’s clearly insecure of her shape, and she was in a perfect shape that particular night. He has absolutely NO right at all to be an under-dressed, ratchet, know-it-all guest and tells on her to run on the cardio because she deserves all the very bests. It’s just..repulsive how one keeps on making fun(read:pressuring) someone.

I know this post isn’t the exact appropriate post to write about body-shaming and defining beauty, I might put that onto future reference to photograph something dealing with, you know, body shape. However so, let me tell you this—even though I freaking lost 12 kilograms as I ran on that cardio, I never considered being oversized bad. You see, you are beautiful in every single size, and you should be proud of that beauty and just, work it.

Sandro Botticelli is one of my inspirations of all time as he is an artist back in Renaissance Florence. His work, “The Birth of Venus” is just beyond life. I love how along the ages, “beautiful” women are portrayed differently. Apart from the fact that the girl here(Caitlin), who is gorgeous as hell, has attributes depicting the likes of Venus De Milo by Botticelli herself, I believe that, curvy girls are just as beautiful as skinny girls. As Venus herself is a curvaceous, divine figure.

Beauty comes in every single size

And you should be proud of that.

Micro-Me

Does the Leviathan, the Behemoth, and the Sirens exist?

Why do people begin to develop more individualism as they grow?

To what extent is our validity as human beings define our authority on the eyes of other creatures?

What if all of us see things differently-literally? Like what is pink to me is green to you?

Can you be a lover like 100%?

What are the secrets hidden in the isolated parts of Borneo?

How true is the truth we’re living in today?

Are we living in lies?

Why is school so tiring?

Why do we feel less Christmassy?

Why can’t we live in the Pokemon world?

When we eventually pass away, will our talents remain?

What is ART?

Is it fate or is it luck?

Do we really feel love or is it just a commercial idea?

What if our existence was only a dream?

Does it really get better?

Eventually I believe It does get better, or at least I believe it does

Micro-Me is an experiment on applying a human being on their own body. You see?. Like slumbering on their own collar bone, or being eaten up by themselves. I believe in a power bigger than us. I also believe that we are just micro beings in this entire universe.

This takes me back to my adventure in Bali, Lombok, and Gili Trawangan with my friends(link here) back in June. For a moment, I thought we were infinite, beings so free and wild that the ends of the world can hear the echo of our voices. Our laughter, our tears, and just, our togetherness. It brings me also to my adventure in Japan(that you might’ve seen in my instagram). For a second I felt so alone in the middle of the crowd. You see, like it doesn’t make sense. How you’re surrounded by so many people, yet you feel so alone.

It brings me to one realization that…

I am on the midst of youth and adulthood. A part of me roams like the wind, living in the Wild Wild Love under A Sky Full of Stars, and another part of me is growing up and losing that Youth.

This Christmas, as I feel the Christmas vibe somehow, lost, however the bliss lingering there reminiscing of all the memories that occurs this year. I am nevertheless grateful of whatever it is. Year by Year, I just feel like things are getting bigger for me. Kicking off a year start with a blogger win trip to Singapore, and ending the year with being a part of Art Basel Miami 2014.

I’d just want to bring up a message, and that is to always love who you are and to always believe that you are just a small part of this world. That is why, there are tons of things this earth has got to offer you. As an artist, I believe in the odds of going on loving the things I am given by making the most of them

If you’re ever looking for Christmas songs that sounds indie-ish, go on noisetrade.com ; dope&free stuff

The Photographic Sense

Photographer.Reinhardt Kenneth

Model.Caitlin Doyle

Assistant.Audrey Tandio

Hairstylist.Livia Kriwangko

The Photographic Sense wishes you a Merry Christmas! Have a warm one with your loved ones & don't forget to give thanks.