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Harmini Asokumar

Category Archives: Rants

Beauty-fool.

09 Monday Jun 2014

Posted by harminiasokumar in Rants

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beautiful, beautiful on the inside, definition of beautiful, definition of beauty, in your own skin, love yourself, natural beauty, what is beauty

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On a daily, I don’t look the way I do in pictures. Makeup, lighting, Photoshop, camera magic; all these beautifying tools play a part. I’ll be the first to admit I’m flawed , and also the first to embrace that all my flaws don’t define who I am.

I love makeup. I love being able to play around with colours, transform how I look, highlight my best features, and camouflage my flaws. Makeup to me, is a form of art. It doesn’t mean I’m insecure or out to impress people.

Likewise I am able to walk out of my house completely bare faced like I do to work on a daily. I literally wake up like this; dark circles, eye-bags (designer ones by the way 😉 ) & my less than perfect skin. I reserve my made up face for shoots, events and date-nights. On other days, I allow my skin to breathe and that doesn’t make me a slob. I’m comfortable regardless to what face I have on.

Everyone has different opinions of what beauty is or what it should be. What’s beautiful to me, may not be beautiful to you. The constant struggle to fit beauty standards is exhausting and quite frankly, I gave up trying to impress anyone but myself sometime back. Because we live in a world where outward appearances have more impact than actual substance. You can’t change society but you can change how you look at yourself & the people around you.

Besides, your looks are a combination of what your parents created. & there’s nothing more beautiful than looking in the mirror, knowing you look like two people who love you endlessly, flaws and all.

& on days you forget that;

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Be a Rainbow.

01 Sunday Jun 2014

Posted by harminiasokumar in Rants

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inspirational, inspire me, inspire someone, maya angelou, quotes, rainbow, rainbow quotes, surprise me

The passing of Maya Angelou will definitely be one with a profound impact to many lives. However a writer/poet never really dies. They live through their words and the millions of lives they’ve inspired. With that being said, I’ve always been inspired by her writing and quotes, all that she stood for. This is particular, is my favourite;10299196_747069352012586_7645855265415460628_nLike most of her quotes, its simple and easily applicable. This one, I relate to the most. Rainbows come in so many different forms. I take the rainbow bit literally when it comes to my art & add that to my accessories. Adding a little bit of colour into someone else’s life (on way or another).

& the easiest of all, is just to take a little extra effort. Giving up a seat in the train, feed a stray animal, smile at a stranger, simple things that cost you next to nothing that make a huge impact. Never underestimate the power of small things.

I love what I do, and I do what I love.

24 Saturday May 2014

Posted by harminiasokumar in Deeper Than Fashion, Rants

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Tags

accessory designer malaysia, bohemian jewelry, deeper than fashion, handmade accessories, handmade accessories malaysia, handmade craft, handmade dreamcatchers malaysia, handmade jewelry, handmade malaysia, inspiration, inspire me, inspire you, jewelry making, self taught designer

332604_10150560388842058_640029639_oCreativity is something that is very subjective to me and my creative process is… to be honest, I don’t have one. I’m merely just enjoying the journey and see where it takes me.

I enjoy picking little knick-knacks and materials whenever I see them, things that I find fascinating & fall in love with; not knowing what I’m going to do with it and letting it inspire me when the time comes. I have charms and materials stored for months before I eventually use them.

I fall in love with ideas before they even hit me. Falling in love, knowing I won’t fall out of it.

I hope for everyone to find love like that. Exciting, inspiring, comforting, fulfilling, bliss.

I come across my designs by chance a lot of time. I make mistakes, recreate and learn from it. Some of my designs may come across a little ‘raw’. Slightly imperfect, and very much handmade. Definitely full of love, hard-work and good vibes.

I work at my own pace, no pressure, in my own rainbow bubble of happy. I believe emotions reflect in your art.

With no compromises in quality and focusing in what my idea of wearable art should be, I constantly evolve in terms of materials used, designs and inspiration. There’s no limitations, just a special sense of freedom, constantly enabling me to progress and feed my soul.

Being able to design wearable art or accessories has given me the ability and creative outlet to turn my daydreaming and inspirations into a reality.

& this, is the kind of love that lasts a lifetime.

Unleashing the inner Deeper Than Fashion goddess.

08 Thursday May 2014

Posted by harminiasokumar in Deeper Than Fashion, Rants

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Tags

accessory designer malaysia, bohemian jewelry, deeper than fashion, handmade accessories, handmade accessories malaysia, handmade craft, handmade dreamcatchers malaysia, handmade jewelry, handmade malaysia, inspiration, inspire me, inspire you, jewelry making, self taught designer

Constantly, I wish I had more than a pair of hands to work with. In fact, sometimes I feel like I do. Infusing my love for art, nature & the sea, as well as all elements that I find keep me sane, this artwork came to life;

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I envisioned myself with 4 arms, enwrapped in all the beauty and elements of magic that keep my creative flow going. The beautiful and talented Thineswari of Trixinc brought my concept and idea to life. Exactly how I saw it in my head and explained to her the best I could, she used that and incorporated her own flair to it. The result as you can see, is magic.

This has nothing to do with religion, but more of the journey I have gone through with Deeper Than Fashion, learning new parts and pieces of myself. Implementing the elements I hold close to me;

Dreamcatcher in rainbow colours – the main product I make and sell that has led me to where I am, inching closer and closer to my dreams. Rainbow because it is my favourite colour, and I add colour to almost every work of art I produce. The ability colours have to chance almost anything, is the closest thing to magic.

The feathers – symbolic for travelling or the ability to move freely in life, the constant wanderlust of a free spirit. Additional to that, a peacock feather (considered a sacred animal in India) represents not just beauty, but also renewal due to it naturally replacing its feathers annually, a sense of continuous growth and change. 

Conch shell – due to its many symbolism but most importantly, my connecting to the ocean. I love holding shells up to my ear, being able to hear the waves of the ocean. This self proclaimed mermaid, needed to have a sea element and this was a perfect fit.

Lotus – “May I live like the lotus, at ease in muddy waters”. The lotus flower grows out of the mud and blossoms above the muddy water surface, symbolizing the ability to push past obstacles and trials, a constant battle everyone faces. 

Does it look too much like a goddess? I certainly hope so. As Francesca Lia Block once said, “Every girl is a goddess” and I for one, am all for that. Flower crown and all.

Having been a fan of Thines’ work for the longest time, I was thrilled when she took on the project with me. Her ability to turn anyone into a goddess and fine details she puts into her work, is amazing. Here is what a close up view on the artwork looks like, such intricate details;10335694_10152361604880169_30236400_n

10331727_10152361604905169_1965217489_n
10338964_10152361604890169_1257794697_n 10339005_10152361604885169_1677520456_nAlso, the illustration is an exact replica of my features. Even Facebook thinks so;

10323018_10152364140435169_1312232385_nThere’s nothing like having an artwork lingering in your mind, coming to life. & I have the wonderful artist Thines to thank for it. Do check out the rest of her amazing work HERE!

Blooming at my own pace.

04 Friday Apr 2014

Posted by harminiasokumar in Rants

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Over a cuppa, an acquaintance asked me; “Where do you see yourself in 5 years and why?” I responded with a “Happy. Because I can.” That conversation stirred into one about how people should constantly strive for more. Exactly that, I strive to be happy. Even if that means I may lead an unglamorous life without a big bank balance.

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“A flower does not thinking of competing with the flower next to it. It just blooms beautifully at its own pace.”

One of the permanent aspects of my life and something that is constantly constant is ironically, change. A conundrum I can never quite solve & honestly, I am happy not to be able to.  Here’s why;

I’ve gone through different phases, different fashion styles, different group of friends, different everything. I’ve played the ‘Mean Girl’ head-cheerleader in high school drama queen, the Lestat De Lioncourt obsessed vampiress dressed in only black from head to toe, the rocker chick with too much eyeliner, all studs and spikes with pink streaks in her hair, the party animal every weekend in my ‘freakum’ dresses, tearing up the dance floor with my heels too high, & ended up with this quirky hippie-go-lucky rainbow mermaid version of me (though I do like playing dress up and going into those versions of me from time to time)

As I grew as a person, I peeled each layer of intrigue and a need to try being someone I thought I was. Exploring different things; looks, feelings, lifestyles, friends and coming out of it learning something new about myself, be it good or bad. I go through metamorphosis almost on a yearly basis, struggling to break out of the layer I was finished with at that point.

Would I change what I was if I could? I would, in a heartbeat. I’ve been unnecessarily mean, spiteful and angry at world. Emotions that I could have had a better control of, I let control me. But I am thankful for it all. I am glad I learnt to be a happier person, that I can let my guard down and ego aside to apologise to those I’ve hurt and if I make a mistake, to not play games or toy with people’s feelings, to treat people the way I want to be treated. On a relentless journey of learning (as cliché as it sounds) to be the best version of me.

I’m now at a point I am complete aware and comfortable in my own skin. I have a family (the whole extended jingbang as well) who are extremely supportive of me and are my backbone, an amazing handful of friends I know will catch me when I fall or let me fall and help me up when I need a hand, a job I love because I am passionate about it, a boy with a need to keep a smile plastered on my face and all the talent and blessings that have been bestowed upon me.

I am truly blessed & five years from now, I will be exactly what I strive to be.

I’ll be happy 🙂

Sometimes, I doodle.

29 Saturday Mar 2014

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On days there’s no work in the office; with coffee in my system, a blue pen in my hand & a free mind, I doodle.
14562_10152038652072058_667676312_n1509677_10152040211907058_1733248082_nNot a fan of drawing with pen because its hard to control and can’t be erased if I make a mistake. The perfectionist in me took a break today and let the free spirit in me create art.

I love the outcome.

Because I’m Happy!

17 Monday Mar 2014

Posted by harminiasokumar in Rants, Uncategorized

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Anyone who knows me personally, knows about my massive obsession with Pharrell Williams (going wayyy back when I was high school). When I first heard he was in the Future Music Festival Asia line up, I was ecstatic beyond belief and likewise, when the show got cancelled at the last minute, devastated beyond belief. A part of my dreams for 2014 were crushed.

After which, I was in the hotel room in my bathrobe, and decided (due to fantastic lighting and sheer vanity) to indulge in some selfie taking, one of which I tagged Pharrell on Instagram with the hashtags #putyourrobeon & #GIRL in support of his new album.

That was it, it was merely me being a fangirl and wanting to send him some happy vibes of fan-love. & I woke up to this;

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A kissy smiley. From Pharrell. I can’t even explain the amount of joy that brought me & it kept my happy going on full scale.

But it gets better, I wake up the very next day to this;
1979156_10152018667077058_1786094360_oPharrell reposted my picture, and followed me on Instagram. Immediately I had my 5 minutes of fame, with tons of new followers, Fly.fm; a local radio station calling me up to ask me about it on air (click here to hear me sound like a giggly mess of happy!), and as ‘fame’ comes so do haters.

Things I learnt about people after Pharrell re-Instagrammed my picture;

a) People will always bitch about how you look because there’s nothing else they can pick on (which is funny because some of them can’t even be saved by plastic surgery, but that’s an entirely different story).
b) People you don’t even know will surprise you and stand up for you, just because they don’t believe in bullying.
c) People you personally know will find a need to make kurang ajar statements on social media (hello keyboard coward!) but are super nice to your face (hello unfriend button!).
d) People I haven’t spoken to in years, took the effort to let me know that they are happy for me because they know what a huge fan I am.

I shall quote Pharrell’s Happy on this; “Here come bad news talking this and that. Well, give me all you got, and don’t hold back, I should probably warn you I’ll be just fine. No offense to you, don’t waste your time. Because I’m happy”

I got calls from so many people who were so happy for me, and also worried about me being affected by the bashing on his page. This is something I’ve gotten accustomed to and no longer phases me, I outgrew getting upset over people who talk to much and mean to little to let it get me down. After all, I managed to get Pharrell’s attention, even for just a minute for him to repost it, that on its own is special to me.

However with all that drama, some really sweet people came to my rescue (who I don’t even know) & had the kindest things to say, standing up for me, and making sure I was okay. So much love, positive energy & rainbows sent their way!

No one is going to ruin this happy vibe on my end & the law of attraction, is as real as it gets. I swear by it. The energy you give out, is the energy you receive.

My entire year, has been made 😀

Art in places least expected.

25 Friday Oct 2013

Posted by harminiasokumar in Rants

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Sometimes, I pleasantly surprise myself with how art can be accidental.

I actually left my phone on a bench, while setting up some accessories to shoot. When I looked at my phone & saw this;
PhotoGrid_1382691571245A cross!
So I decided I’d improvise and add on, with this;
PhotoGrid_1382691229017It’s all about love & peace 🙂

Mermaid Rants. #1

22 Tuesday Oct 2013

Posted by harminiasokumar in Rants

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“Maybe I would become a mermaid. I would live in the swirling blue-green currents, doing exotic underwater dances for the fish, kissed by sea anemones , caressed by seaweed shawls. I would have a dolphin friend. He would have merry eyes and thick flesh of a god. My fingernails would be tiny shells and my skin would be like jade with light shining through it I would never have to come back up”.
— Francesca Lia Block .

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Excuse my limited editing skills, I’m a noob with Photoshop.

Ever since I can remember, I’ve had the biggest fascinations with mermaids. Ariel (The Little Mermaid) is not only my favourite Disney Princess but also a character I felt like I could relate to in a lot of ways, mostly always wanting more for herself, to explore and to learn new things in new places, to feed her curiosity.

I need to feed my curiosity. This calls for the beach.

Paint the world with rainbows.

13 Sunday Oct 2013

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If you know me, you’ll know I love a good sale 😉

I bought this plain white plastic link chain necklace from Forever21 today at RM10 (I also bought the turquoise one!) & decided to revamp it into a rainbow coloured one to suit my wardrobe; IMG_20131013_185356I did the same thing previously here.

There’s nothing quite like being able to scout something at such a great price and turning it into a piece of art you can wear 🙂

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