Art for Art's sake

Had a dinner meeting with Mr. Kooi an artist who works with copper tooling technique as his medium at The Ship restaurant located on Sri Bahari Road last night. His interest is in getting artists together and having shows for the benifit of various Charity foundations like the handicap and children's orphanage. The is to help promote an image for the Penang Artists as geared towards doing good for society rather than just for monetary vlaues. it is hoped that with this move proffessional artists will gain better sense of integrity and respect for their endeavors in society. it will also be an example for the younger generation artists to emulate as part of their long term goals in the service towards their fellow man.
For the past two years i tolf him and another fellow Malay Artist who was present that i have been donating two pieces of my works towwards the fundraising event of the D'Home Foundation for the mentally ill in Penang. I found out that for one of the events my works fethced RM700 when auctioned. I also shared my idea that this kind of effort has to be made in ow profile and small scale innitially so that it is given a chance to take root and grow instead of going all out with too much publicity and drawing too much unwonted attention and negative feedback. yes I strongly believe that we should and could carry out such activity which will benifit all those involved positvely in one way or another but in this day and age everything that is done even with the greatest of good intentions can turn sour if not fully realized especially if it does not agree with the rest of the Artist community or worse with those who seek to find faults when the idea conflicts with their interest.
Artists do not retire from their careers but for those by normal standards are of retirement age like yours truly should in one way or another make an effort to give back in return for benifit of society after all their years of enjoying the status of being an artist, earning an income and often well respected by their peers and the general population. Today I find more and more artist more into how to get into shows and make a killing with their creative output and sadly enough most become scrooges even among their friends whether in sharing ideas or the financial gains. In the process of One-upmanship and competitive spirit many exist on their own catering to the small circle that they benifit from financially. What is even worse i find some backbiting and critizing those they deem a potential competition to their market value. Dont ask me how i know this but i trust my heart and when I see a fellow artist my first impression of his demeanor towards me is seldom wrong whether he is genuine and sincere or he is all about self promotion and out to make it by hook or by crook.
Perhaps I am naive and has been since my younger days for i believe in creating Art for Art's sake. I remember an incident where I was doing printmaking in the studio at the University in Green Bay, Wisconsin. I worked at it for so many hours often late into the night that the University alooed me to sleep in the studio- the only student allowed to do so that i knew of. The studio loft was cleared and cleaned for me to sleep in or rest and from the loft i would have a clear view of the studio below me and across where most of my finished prints would be taped to the wall. On tghis particular morning I had made 25 monoprints of Native Americans all day and night before i climbed up to the loft and fell exhausted asleep. I was woken up by the arrival of adult students who was having a printmaking club seccesion and most were ladies. As i listened to them chatting I remembered one saying, too bad he never sells his works or had any shows. Another replied, this is creating Art for Art's sake and i felt right at the time but at the same time wished i had been selling so i dont have to scrounge around for food that day.
But i survived and had a great life in the process as i made alot of good friends who made sure that i had my lunch or dinner for the day before i got back and lock myself in the printmaking studio. Even the night security guards would often knock on the door now and then with a burger and drink in hand just in case...that was heartfelt charitable acts i owe to the society being an artist; I felt special despite being in need most of the time for when I spend the back breaking hours of working on my prints my mind was free from the thoughts of how well my works will sell but more into how those i share them with will enjoy what i had to offer them.
Other than the process and creative moments in executing my works my self satisfaction came from the look or awe and surprise on the faces of my friends or those who view my works, it gave me deep satisfaction worth all the time and effort. Everytime I visit their homes I was happy to see my works on their walls like i too was part of their lives, the feeling would have been less so had they bought my painting...I was naive in that sense...was I?
My talent is God given and as i grow older I am more convince of this fact. I am not any better or worse than most artists of my peers but for me being an artist has opened doors that would normally would be locked shut for most common man. Being an artist has led me down many paths and roads less traveled and delivered me from many situations that that would have endangered my life and for this reasons i beleive in giving back what i have been graced with in the name of my Maker.Perhaps it may be construed as egotistical by some for what I beleive and how i have carried myself as an artist over the years but i would truly want to believe that I did simply because Art tis for Art's sake.

"There are not only more people collecting, there are more people collecting for the wrong reasons, basically as the latest get rich quick scheme. They buy art like lottery tickets."
Mary Boone/ Art Collector

"Most of the people I admire, they usually smell funny and don't get out much. It's true. Most of them are either dead or not feeling well."
Tom Waits/Singer