Art My Foot!

In Life! yesterday, there was an article describing the homecoming work of a local artist. Judging by the number of biennales the artist attended, he should be well-known. Hmmm... I wonder why...

Many years back when I was in primary school, I went on an excursion and 1 of the stops was the National Museum. I remember it was my first time there and I was disappointed with the dead and dull environment within. I came across a white table with a huge bundle of black coloured garden hose amongst the other art pieces. Stunned as I was, I asked a "janitor-looking" lady (whom I found out later was the curator) if that was indeed an art piece. I'd thought she was about to wash the floor with the hose.

To my dismay, it turned out to be a real art piece. Fortunately for me, at that young tender age, I did not have to try to sound artsy and think up some literary mambo jambo to express my appreciation of that piece. Vaguely, my immediate response was,"haa?? wa lau eh". Since that day, I never set foot in the museum again.

Reading yesterday's article brought up pent-up feelings in me again. Such art, to me, wastes prime space and gives "artists" a false sense of glamour. While I do not appreciate art in general, looking at Van Gogh's simple works in vibrant colours or Picasso's distorted portraits really make me sit and stare at their works in awe, wondering what was in their minds as they poured their emotions into their works. However, looking at the photo in yesterday's article, I just wonder what is wrong with such artists' minds. Call me a Philistine, but to have an empty hall painted in white with an automatic sliding door installed called a homecoming work is total BULLSHIT to me. If anything, it only reflects, to a layman, that after years for international exposure, Singaporean artists have nothing to show for. There's a chinese saying - "jiao1 bai2 juan4".

To have a journalist take up half a page of the papers to try to analyze the work, to put it on a pedestal and almost worship it makes it so much more saddening. To me, the art world is made up of 3 main parties. The artists, the critics and the rich buyers. The former 2 start the ball rolling while the latter foolishly fuels the process. Quote from article - "In the wake of debate about flagging interest in museums here, the artist needles us thus: Go on, walk out, move along now, there's literally nothing to see." This is evidently someone trying to sound smart in light of the art piece's nothingness. An white-washed empty hall with a sliding door is not art! It's really a case of been-there-done-that. If the work was meant to shock, some artists have done it before and managed to wow the critics. But now, where's the wow factor? It seems more a case of a close relative of "writer's block" - "artist's block". So how does a work like that get played up? There you go, in comes the critic to add substance to nothingness. And you wonder why there is flagging interest in museums here?

Legend has it that in 1 of the English Literature exam in NUS years ago, a very book-smart student who spent hours poring through books to prepare for the paper was dumbfounded when the question read,"Describe Courage". It was not a question where you can use knowledge from a textbook to begin answering. Frustrated, this student wrote 3 words,"This is courage!" and walked out of the exam hall. Fortunately for him, the lecturer was a Caucasian who gave him an "A" for that. Given a local lecturer, he would have been awarded the other end of the grade spectrum.

So, if we are to bring about interest in art to Singaporeans in general, do it genuinely. Let's not fool us with such thoughtless works, perpetuated by critics who put in lots of thoughts to bring intelligence to the works. Otherwise, we will continue to see empty museum halls.


redcocoon

NKF Field Day

Well, the dust is still settling from the recent furore. Classic case of David and Goliath, with a twist. Goliath won. In light of the all the events that transpired, it is not difficult to look at the case cynically. It just further proves my own opinion that what we give to charity never fully benefit the needy.

While signing off donating directly through the phone, monthly contributions or the tin cans since a long time ago, I still do give to the needy on the street or help a stranger in need.

Several high profile people have emerged to say that we should not stop giving as the people who need help would be the ones to suffer. Latest personality would be Mrs PM who wrote in her own capacity. What I feel is that most Singaporeans still want to give, but there must be accountability. While it is not wrong for NKF to accumulate its reserves, it is very wrong to withhold information to make it seem poorer than it is. That is the crux of the matter - to be truthful.

The higher-uppers really do not seem to empathise with the man on the street. True, what the former CEO earned may be peanuts compared to the donations he had garnered. However, the funds were not acquired through capilistic wit, but through imploring the kindness of every man on the street. So, to a man earning "real peanuts" and still donates to charity, it is not acceptable that the head earns so much.

Anyway, whatever happened to the very necessary altruistic unselfishness that should be the cornerstone characteristic of a charitable leader? Put another earnest person wanting to serve the sick and I believe he'll not do as bad. Why? Because the sick are still around and they need help.

During the disastrous tsunami saga, many Singaporeans contributed generously without any dare-devil shows put up by media personalities or the promise of winning condominiums.

My point is - there is goodness in everyone. To help the less fortunate, we do not need a highly qualified person who sulks that he is getting lesser than what he would get in the private sector. We need a highly enlightened person who sincerely wants to help the poor, someone who answers a higher calling beyond making money. We need to know that money put into charitable organisations must be spent fully on the needy.


redcocoon

Days of Being ... In a Team

Just the other day, I was at Marina Bay for the Singapore Dragon Boat Festival. My woman and I were there to cheer a good friend who joined the team for many reasons, all good ones though. Seeing him all lean again reminds me that I should go back to my Muay Thai sessions after a 6-month hiatus.

The moment we stepped into the event area, we could feel the electrifying atmosphere. The groups of people from different institutions wearing colour coded t-shirts, the drums, whistles and the cheers to egg their teams on. Sure, the cheers don't change much over the years, the drums and whistles are still the mainstay in most competitions; but the competitive atmosphere and the vibes going through me reminded me of all the glory days during school tournaments.

Even as a non-participant that day, it sure felt good cheering my friend on, seeing clearly through my binos how he put himself on the line at every oar-stroke made me awe-struck. It was a rush seeing how the team drew closer to the other teams towards the fininshing line, and how the other team members cheered to will the boat closer to the frontrunners.

The team finished fourth, just a second from the 3rd team. But it's a fantastic acheivement for a team that was formed just 3months ago and where it's participants have irregular work schedules. Kudos to the entire team!

Being there made me yearn for the days of being in a team. The camaraderie, the cheering, the sweat, the tears, the adrenalin rush..... WOOOSAAAA!!!!!


redcocoon