The World according to Terragen

It's that time of the year to change format! As you will notice in my recent postings, I've put off my oil painting for quite awhile. Apart from the fact that my art supplies are running low, I don't want to be too 'specialised' in traditional oil painting. I'm trying out some new art platform - this time it's Terragen, a photorealistic landscape renderer. I could just create a whole new world without lifting a brush - traditionally or digitally speaking. Once I've created my terrain, I just need to fiddle with the built-in camera angles and positions to arrive at the best viewpoint that I can capture. So, beauty really is in the eyes of the beholder.

Terragen has actually been around for around 5 years now and its free for non-commercial use. Although the images are computer generated, to get to that final image which I like doesn't come without lots of work in terms of color picking, presetting, scaling etc. In short I have to adjust all possible parameters to create my desired terrain, followed by grass cover, sand, rocks, snow, clouds, water level and atmosphere. Most of the time, as I've mentioned, is spent playing around with the camera. Below are some results from a first-timer:









Perhaps soon, with the appropriate plug-ins and without transporting to any other platform, Terragen will allow me to introduce other stuff like birds flying, boat riding, fishing or even mountain biking! We can only imagine what the future holds. Until then, here are some hauntingly beautiful landscapes rendered by experts. Give Terragen a try and travel the world. With luck, you could find yourself in the Land of Hobbitts!

Flight of the Homeless

We Stand Together

In conjunction with the World's Human Rights Day sanctioned by the United Nations on Dec 10th. Here is a message from last year's event: Poverty is a cause and a product of human rights violation.

Take time off to attend a unique human rights festival organised by the Malaysian Bar Council at KL's Central Market on Dec 9th 9 a.m. with the theme: “As I Believe: Freedom of Expression through Art, Music, Culture and Conscience”

Attacking the enemy fortress

I don't usually play attacking chess, but when the occasion arises its usually a do or die situation for me. This game below which I have just played over the internet at Playchess , as with most Open Sicilian games, has many tactical traps and complicated ramifications. Its pointless going for material gain when the position demands the breaking up of the king's castle and probably a few heavy piece sacrifices. This, coupled with the fact that it is a 5 minute a side game, makes it an exciting evening, at least for me!

As for the local chess scene, here's some breaking news - Yeoh Li Tian has managed to obtain 4th placing in the recently concluded World Youth Chess Championship Under 8 category in Turkey. This is the best achievement ever for our country. We may not be a traditional chess playing nation but the nation can also be proud of its 4th placing in the Asian Indoor Games held at Macau last month. We were just behind China,India and Vietnam, all of whom have strong grandmasters in their respective countries (The current classical world champion is Anand Viswanathan from India). Furthermore, Malaysia won bronze in both the men and women individual events and achieved 5th position in the team blitz category. Alas, such impressive accomplishments were not reported in the mainstream newspapers.

Playchess is one of the top chess servers with thousands of players at any one time playing in the main hall, including many of the world's top grandmasters. If you happen to be there at the right moment, you can look me up (my handle is Converse32). Come join the world's premier internet chess league!

The Two Towers

Just try to imagine Earth without wars and mass poverty,
Without raging forests and haze,
Where all human species are of one race,
Where each share the wealth of Earth's abundant resources;
There you find no chemical pollution,
no clogged drains,
no alien invasion,
and no mass migration either.

Supposingly, you have got your wish,
Now, try to imagine....
this Earth where most of her 6.5 billion peole could be spirited away tomorrow,
to be transported to a galaxy far, far away,
and be rehabilitated on the importance of love and benevolence.

A Misty Winter

I'm currently on hibernation mode, as far as oil painting is concerned. You see, my regular art supplier, Singapore-based Art Friend, has relocated from UE3 Shopping Complex to the high-end Gardens @ Midvalley. However, it seems to take them quite some time to reopen (probably early next year). I can't paint without their Daler-Rowney's Linseed Stand Oil brand, which I normally mix with my white. Otherwise, I may have to pull my brushes in agony!

So, in order not to lose touch, I've returned to doing digital art, though it took me awhile to relearn all the different 'technical' strokes all over again. Still, I think it is a blessing in disguise and such a joy to discover new tips and tricks posted all over the internet. Anyhow, I can't wait to paint on Real Canvas again.

Wat Arun @ Chao Phraya

Wat Arun is one of the most important and beautiful landmark in Thailand. When I did manage to visit the temple by boat recently, I was completely mesmerized by its grandiosity and intricate design. You cannot fail to miss its images on T shirt prints, postcards and souvenirs. It is said that the best time to view this structure is during sunset and looking from the eastern side of the river. This is truly an important Asian Heritage. With a little bit of digital surgery, I hereby present to you, Wat Arun, from different perpsectives:








A visit to Wat Arun, by canoe, under a galaxy of stars. A dream come true!

Perseverance

Work In Progress

Space Mission And A Double Heart Transplant

This week has been quite eventful for all Malaysians. We are set to welcome the first Malaysian to step into space or the International Space Station to be more exact. And while the mission gets underway, there is a lone shooting star in our Malaysian sky that has caught the attention of all of us. I'm referring, of course, to 14 year old Tee Hui Yi, who remarkably survived not one but two heart transplant, in two days.

Imagine how her parents would feel when told that her body had rejected the first transplant - then in a most dramatic and unimaginable turn of event, the dedicated and efficient heart transplant unit in IJN announced that they are ready to perform a second tranplant after the first one ended in hyperacute rejection.

What we are getting here is more than a case of successful transplant.

Hui Yi is like a bright streak of light in the sky - she represents that hope that is able to overcome all odds.

After a long wait for a heart donor and in her anguish, she made a heart rending appeal to the nation thru the mainstream newspapers. Overnight she had gained the deep symphathy of the public. There is nothing to be ashamed of by the use of the word sympathy - it is one of the most enduring of universal value of ethics at this age of pluralism and modernity.

Throughout history, up to this modern age, each cultural and religious group still think that they are superior in terms of moral values. It is time, especially in our pluralistic society, that we get at some universal ethical values, that common human feelings and sentiments that we all share. Sentiments like kindness, patience, sympathy and benevolence - can bond us together as one despite our cultural and religious differences. It is said that it is either we learn to live together as one or we shall die together.

Sometimes, in our march for justice and unity, when all else fails including reasoning, we have to appeal to our most innate and respected universal sentiment, that is altruism. Here, I'm not talking about selective altruism which is helping those of the same social standing, your own circle of friends relatives or similar race. I'm referring to an altruism that is truly colour blind and reciprocal in nature. This is in actual fact, a live demonstration of our social contract in action. This is that something that is so sorely missing for such a long time that we should be looking out for in the future. This is the passion that will propel our nation to be looked at by the international community as a truly harmonious society. For me, such an example is already a national success.

Thank you, Hui Yi for showing patience and courage and for being that loving example where each Malaysian can pour out his or her heart and soul. Thank you, also, to the IJN team for showing again that true mark of service from the heart.

Note (Oct 12th): This article also appeared in Malaysiakini under the heading Hui Yi a bright streak of light. In the meantime, the IJN transplant team had done their first of a series of heart muscle biopsies on her, and the finding is that there is almost no organ rejection. Bravo to Hui Yi. Let's hope that she will have a speedy and uneventful recovery.

My Everlasting Light

Green Pastures

Slideshow - seascape

The Lake House

Remembering the victims of the September 11th attack.

Merdeka Chess Team Standard

The 2-week long Malaysian Chess Festival ended yesterday with the conclusion of the Merdeka Team Standard event. There is good participation from players from all corners of the nation, who came in conjunction with the 50th National Day celebration. Congrats to ASTRO team for winning the Open Section in blazing fashion. They were in the lead most of the time. Kudos to Malaysian Chess Federation for the meticulous organising, especially the Malaysian Open which attracted a myriad of grandmasters and international masters from 15 countries (see news coverage under Chessbase). Rather than wait for the news to arrive on my breakfast table, I decided to make my own small contribution. Here's some photo sharing:










For me, chess is a form of pleasure and enjoyment. This is just part of life, though, which needs to be continuosly balanced up by being a responsible citizen and a free thinker. We must strive to reject all forms of imbalance, which will always appear in the real world. Just as in a chess match there are all sorts of imbalances that we have to sort out, ranging from the obvious material imbalance to pawn structure (isolated, doubled, backward pawns etc), relative strength of minor pieces, control of vital squares/files, advantage in space, lead in development and finally who has the current initiative.

Recently, a study done by a team of psychologists revealed that contrary to public opinion, chess does surprisingly involved a series of risk-taking behaviour quite similar to activities like rock climbing, sky diving and bungee jumping. The only reason why the public do not see it that way is because chess is the ultimate invisible game to the spectators. One do not see the emotionally tense battle going in the minds of two great players. Of course, rarely, like myself who is not as agile as before, I do doze off a little during (and not in between) matches!

Seriously, chess can be a very creative game if one sees it with an artistic mind, instead of just relying on memorizing 15 to 25 move long opening theories which is a favourite approach by experts and amateurs alike including me. Of course there is a lot of hard work where one has to deal with a position in a systematic manner, but apart from top level chess, the game still provides ample fun. Especially so when a single last move represents the magical end point of a brilliantly thought out combination several moves preceding it. Sometimes, one may be surprised that an insignificant pawn can turn out to be the saviour in a mating attack against the fortress.

Garry Kasparov, recently wrote a book titled How Life Imitates Chess. I think sometimes chess imitates life. And life can be hard. In a difficult situation, one will have to look for whatever tactical resources available to stay in the game before calling it a day.

Happy 50th Merdeka to all races!

No discrimination.....

Endless Love

Redang Batik Art

Redang Island is great for its pristine white broad beaches and snorkeling activities. At one part of the long beach stretch, one can even find corals and baby sharks (they're vegetarian of course). My son also discovered 2 pairs of spectacles and a 5 ringgit note. Snorkeling is great fun at the Marine Park or even better in the middle of the ocean. Too bad I don't carry an underwater camera case along. For weekend night activity, one can stroll along the breezy beach (don't forget to bring along a torchlight), listen to sweet sentimental songs being played by a live band or hop over to Laguna Beach Resort for DJ disco partying.

One activity though that often goes unnoticed is batik painting. For a fee, one can spend a meaningful half day learning the art (plus you get to show off your painted T-shirt or canvas to your friends back home). The lady below is kind enough to let me take snapshots of her beautiful creations: