{"id":60411,"date":"2017-08-01T00:00:06","date_gmt":"2017-08-01T07:00:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/?p=60411"},"modified":"2017-08-01T11:06:38","modified_gmt":"2017-08-01T18:06:38","slug":"examine-the-guts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2017\/08\/01\/examine-the-guts\/","title":{"rendered":"EXAMINE THE GUTS."},"content":{"rendered":"

\"What<\/p>\n

Ever since I was a kid, I liked to take shit apart, and put it back together.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

The joy of tinkering<\/h2>\n
\"Bayer
Bayer x Eric Kim. Don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t waste your mind.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

To me, this EMPOWERED ME. I loved figuring out how stuff worked. I still remember lying in bed, reading these DK ILLUSTRATED books, of mechanical boats, castles, and other stuff… deconstructed. It made me realize,<\/p>\n

\n It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s actually not that complicated. I can build this.\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

In high school, my mentor and friend Eric Moon taught me how to build a custom PC. He showed me how to buy the shell on NewEgg.com, how to Choose the processor, ram, hard drive, graphics card, and even how to \u00e2\u20ac\u0153pimp\u00e2\u20ac\u009d it out with cold cathode lights, colorful led fans, etc. Anyways, it was great, because it taught me that computers were not that complicated.<\/strong><\/p>\n

What I learned \u00e2\u20ac\u0153pimping my own ride\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/h2>\n
\"Tesla
Tesla Model 3 Rims by Eric Kim<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

My first car at age 15 was a 1991 Nissan Sentra, XE, 4 door, white, with 5 speed manual. I had great pride in that car. I took it apart. I took apart the entire interior, dash-board, and spray painted the ugly brown interior into black. I replaced the sagging headliner. Thank god for Internet forums.<\/p>\n

\"AMG
AMG CONCEPT X ERIC KIM<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I upgraded the intake with a short ram and KN filter. I upgraded the headers, with a SS AUTOCHROME stainless steel version from eBay\/China. I got a new downpipe, and 2 inch mendrel bend exhaust and magnaflow muffler from a Chinese mechanic in Oakland. I advanced the timing, to squeeze a few extra horsepower, and upgraded to 91 octane premium gas.<\/p>\n

\"Mercedes
Mercedes AMG ENGINE by ERICKIM<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I spray painted the rims, fixed the paint on the side mirrors, the bumpers, etc.<\/p>\n

Sure, my car was a piece of crap, but I loved it. Why? Because I BUILT IT MYSELF, instead of just buying a new BMW like some spoiled kids at school did.<\/p>\n

\"Regalia
Regalia final fantasy car by ERIC KIM<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

My lesson:<\/p>\n

\n Building something is more fun than buying it. And you have more pride, control, and feel cooler.<\/strong>\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Deconstruct everything.<\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve been deconstructing social constructs, money, economics, and products.<\/p>\n

The fun thing: I realize that it isn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t a big deal.<\/p>\n

For example, I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve been drawing currency. I realized that money is just a man-made concept, aka, FIAT (faith based) currency<\/a>. Money is just pieces of paper…yet we kill each other over this shit?<\/p>\n

\"Vietnamese
Vietnamese Dong by ERIC KIM. 500,000 VND is roughly $20 USD.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\"Vietnamese<\/p>\n

Cars are cool. I love the design. But ultimately, they are just LEGO bricks put together. To waste $50,000 of your hard-earned cash in your job, to \u00e2\u20ac\u0153buy success\u00e2\u20ac\u009d and a status symbol is silly. Better to buy a junk car, and build it from scratch.<\/p>\n

Unfortunately we have lost control with technology. You cannot make your own iPhone, iPad, or MacBook laptop. We have traded convenience, portability, lightness, coolness, of these Apple products… instead of building our own junky devices.<\/p>\n

How to be happier<\/h2>\n
\"Color.
Chroma.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Some life lessons:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. If you desire a material thing (car, camera, watch, house, etc) Just DRAW IT. Drawing it is more fun, faster, and more meaningful than just buying it.<\/li>\n
  2. If you want to buy something you cannot afford, Google how it looks inside. Examine the guts. Then you will find out, it isn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t a big deal.<\/li>\n
  3. Examine yourself and your own guts: Contemplate that you are nothing but skin, bones, flesh, blood, and a little breath. Your death awaits you. So why waste your life doing shit you don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t wanna do?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    So what is the purpose of life? Certainly not to buy stuff.<\/p>\n

    My idea:<\/p>\n

    \n The purpose of life is to CREATE ART. To always be excited don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t, and JOYFUL of living. To appreciate life. To appreciate your loved ones. To remix art you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve already seen. To empower others.\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

    Life is simple, limited, and short. Don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t waste it.<\/p>\n

    BE STRONG,
    \nERIC<\/p>\n

    \n

    MAKE MORE ART<\/a><\/h1>\n

    \"eric<\/p>\n

    Re-discover you inner-child and feel like PABLO PICASSO<\/a>:<\/p>\n