THE HERO WITH THOUSAND FACES.

Soccer heroes then, 2013.

Snychronicity strikes again. While currently engaging and exploring the many notions, interpretations, manifestations, faces and in most cases, veils of a hero and warrior, I met Tanggarajoo, a senior artist or otai who I respect. He was holding Joseph Campbell's seminal book, "The hero with thousand faces". I mentioned to him about my new series on 'the veil of a warrior' in which I probe into the many faces of a hero. I told him that we are experiencing a synchronicity, he agreed and added serendipity as another term for similar experience. I have heard of Campbell's work on comparative mythology, combining both psychology and anthropology to explain certain shared fundamental concepts between many forms of spiritual tradition. The book was also made popular by George Lucas's "Star Wars", who according to Lucas himself, was largely influenced by the book. Campbell himself, studied the Upanishad and Vedas, as well as other forms of Eastern spiritual traditions especially Hinduism, Mahayana Buddhism and Taoism. From such sources, he derived his articulation on mythology as means to express man's spiritual journey of unveiling his/her true 'hero' within. My encounter with Tanggarajoo is perhaps a sign to re-visit Joseph Campbell's seminal book beyond casual browsing. His exploration of a 'hero's journey'has been translated by many artists and creative individuals through many fields including film, game design, novel etc. In a way, and perhaps through my references on Islamic cosmology and Malay myths, even I have unknowingly adopted his conception in some of my works such as "Return of A Native", "The Borrower of Light", "Veil of Nurbaya" series and now, "Veil of a Warrior "series. So, those interested in unveiling the 'hero' within, through the many faces of contemporary experiences, may try to go through Joseph Campbell's "The hero with thousand faces" as one of your reading prescriptions and sources of your mental probing. You may add to that by looking through my new series of work , "Unveiling A warrior". Hope you'll unveil the true 'hero' within.

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BE AWARE OF THE LIGHT.

My dear 'younger' new media art proponents in Malaysia,

Before you become totally inflicted by short term memory and a serious case of selective amnesia, allow me to offer my 'seposen' reminder. As if looking at a screening or projection of video, try to be aware of the 'source of light', instead of the projected images. Images come and go, but the 'light' stays. It is the 'light' that determines the images. Learn to shift your focus from 'images' to the 'light'. Images may confuse your consciousness especially if you totally identify yourself through them, or become too attach to them, or objectify them as the only version of your 'reality'. You will only end up traped in the world of images, of language or reflections, or shadows, or 'representation', or 'copy', or 'explanation'. Instead, learn to understand the 'source of light', to always be aware of its presence that allows the images to exist, to be experienced. Master thaf awareness, until you become the 'light' itself, passing through a pure, clean and clear  lense. Only then, you will project, witness and experience what we normally call, 'true picture'. 

So my beloved brotha and sista, BE AWARE OF THE LIGHT, not the images.