Malaysia Contemporary Art Tourism

On the 29th which is next week I will be giving a short talk on behalf of my brother Lee who could not make it to the seminar as a panel member. It is a privilege that is not an easy task as I have to make this short speech on the state of the contemporary Art scene here in Penang. I will be meeting Lee to discuss his ideas as to what he would like to be presented on his behalf, however having had to opportunity to sit with his at the Galeri Seni Mutiara yesterday for an opening there I have a glimpse of what he has in mind and in total agreement with it.

The whole idea of selling Contemporary Art as a tourism package is very good except first we have to sell the idea to the locals. If the mentality of the locals lacks awareness and support for the Art scene here selling it to the tourists would be like selling paintings brought in from China or Thailand and it would not make much difference to the locals so long as it sells. The loss here is the authenticity or genuine contemporary art works produced by the local artists. Hence, in the long run it will also be a loss or erosion of the local creative movement resulting in no growth, no transcending thoughts and ideas emerging from the local artists.

Today more and more foreign artists are being promoted at local private as well state art galleries and it is understandably so as these galleries have pretty much run out of new talents among locals whose works can sell. On the other hand the artists themselves have receded into the background for one reason or another in silent protest. This protest is mainly due to the lack of recognition if not support of their works in terms of promotion from the institutions that are responsible for such undertakings. Most of these institutions favor international involvement assuming that it is what will promote art in this country at the expense of local talents. As an example, local art collectors would rather travel to foreign countries collecting artworks because it seems the thing to do as it reflects their wealth and sophistication to their friends and families here. There is very few if any foreigners who purchase local works at arts shows here I notice and hardly any corporate bodies have been seen involving in the support of the fine art through buying local art works for their premises. Most of these leaders of the private sectors running major companies and banks has no inclination nor the taste for art when it comes to the support of the artists. Most if you notice the works hanging on the wall would hang some cheap reproductions or posters imported to give the premise a sense of aesthetic awareness catering to the fine arts.

The love and respect i have for my brother Lee is because for one thing if you by chance visit his office you will find its walls are all covered with the extensive works of art collected over the years from local artists. it is more like and art gallery than the office of a law firm. here is a man who genuinely involve all his effort in promoting local art and artists as for every piece of work purchased means a support of the artist who created it. How many firms or individuals are this conscientious when it comes to playing the role of being a patron of the Arts in this state? When a society neglects its creative spirit which is is essence are the artists and creators of ideas, visionaries what results is the loss of what is genuine, original and creative. The society will in time end up in a state of mediocrity existing no more different than any other society competing to survive just for the sake of survival. There will be a lacking in the sense of pride and accomplishment for the whole and this will be the quality of product that is hoped to be shared with all those who come as visitors to the society.

Artists are the 'keepers' of a society's cultural heritage. Theirs are the minds that can deal with the woes of a society when others and all else fail as their minds are such that they become the conduit of communication beyond the use of words as they play the role of mediating between rational and the irrational. This quality in an artist is most often overlooked and unrecognized in our society. It is the artist that the down trodden and despaired often look to in order to find solace and comfort in not compassionate understanding as the artist is often times a good listener and accommodating in providing a buffer for the suffering of the disillusioned of a society and they do it naturally for free unlike the psychologist and psychiatrist. I many old cultures the artist were considered like a shaman of the society, one who was approached where religion, and psychology fail to perform. A drug user for example would sit and relate his story to and artist than he would to his own parents, a lawyer or a rehab councilor simply because of a feeling of this ancient trust in the man whose work is creativity and holds no other intention than to listen with no sense of judgement. Sadly artists of this magnitude are a rare specie too in our modern society as most have gotten caught up in the rat race of making it big financially if not in name.

In her book "Hanta-Yo", the author Ruth Beebee Hill depicted the main character in the epic story of a Native Amrican tribe as the one the tribe had elected as "The Shirt wearer". This character was almost as well respected as the chieftains when it came to making the major decissions involving the future of the tribe. he was by modern standard an artist who painted the designs and predicted the fate of his people through his intuition and visions. In this scenarion, the artist became the healer or the gaurdian of the society's psychic and emotional temprement. In our modern society the artist is often one who can paint and draw well especially if his or her works pleases the public and mosthave nothing more to offer for the benifit of the a healthy society.

In my experience the Japanese are most supportive of their Artist and those with highly creative minds, they revere those who can think and create out of the ordinary. having lived for three years in the country one of the most interesting discovery i made was the fact that the japanese educational system which was more into collective thinking and group process has changed into one that promoted individuality and self expression especially in the Arts. In an article i read in the Japan Times it was said that this change was due to the discovery made that japan was suffering from lack of originality and stagnation when it came to promotng new ideas and concepts.

"An artist's life is built on instinct and intuition. It is a life, which taps in to sensual energies - through all the senses - with the pain, the hunger and pleasures of life."


"Many artists and scientists of modern times have written about the moment of artistic activity when out of a vague creative mood there suddenly dawned, as though by illumination, the clear consciousness of the essential features of the projected work, as they have observed it in themselves."


'I have written... from immediate dictation, twelve or sometimes twenty or thirty lines at a time, without premeditation, and even against my Will; the time it has taken in writing was thus render'd non-existent. I am the secretary, the authors are in eternity,' stated William Blake, the poet (1757-1827).



These extraordinary occurences and illuminations are part and parcel of what is inherent within an artist's conciousness other than just the ability to create outstanding works of art. the artist in many cases were or are still conduits to spiritual as well as psycho-emotional energies which are expressed in the works. Most are able to share these processes when asked but many cannot as their means of understanding and communication is limited.