Penang Art District -Survey for Galleries.

I attended a gathering of the Penang Planning committee for the Penang Art District - Survey fro Galleries also attended by many local artists and gallery owners who has a stake in this project. Met a few good friends and fellow artists, has been more than three years now since i decided to take a step back from the Penang Art Scene. One of them has even become a Dato' and well deserved I might add. The meeting was organized by Y.B> Tony Puah and Mr. Lee Khai, whose invitation I made the effort to attend.
We were handed a questionnaire to be filled with our input on the matter. I am writing this Blog entry in reply to the last question -Additional notes and comments.
Firstly I think it is a very welcome move to create such a facility catered to the Arts; Noble. My gratitude towards both these gentlemen for spearheading this mega task. The Community owes a debt of gratitude to them considering the amount of works it would take for them while doing their own personal vocations.
Secondly, The location is also great except my concern is parking.
Last but not least is my personal feelings about the whole matter from the perspective of a Penang born, Malay artist who has spent over 21 years in the United States and 3 years in Japan as an artist and a parent. I would like to say that i am a member of the Pelukis Melayu PP, but this would b a lie as such and entity has never existed since "I became a member ', This is not right and i hope it is looked into so that a proper measure is taken to reestablish this society. The details i leave it up to you to look into but in a way i am asking foor your help to look into the matter as it concerns what should be a Malay group of Penang Artist to have platform to speak and take action from, just like the Chinese.
What has this to do with the project? Look into the future, down the road, use your imagination. There's a building belonging tp whoever on Hutton Lane sitting like a lonesome cowboy with no action. get this building to become the Malay Art Gallery and club. Give credit to the opposition, make them foot the bill whatever it cost. If you can help to make this happen for the unfortunate and lsot Malaly Artists in Penang; it is a out of moral 'political if not racial conscience, that we need to do this to get the Malays on board; tther simply is no Malay Art Organization known as Pelukis2 Melayu Pulau Pinang.
I realize money talks bulshit walks, however I am an artist and I assume I  think like one, it is my concern that the competitive economic side of Art has become a a drive towards success here; who works sells the most, or whose gallery offers the best service and the lowest rental cost - that is being professional and credible to the trade- this economic force if not checked will not only choke creativity but also rifts between those who can and those who cannot. If we are looking for quality than this needs to be looked into, why? how? to find the balance, the middle route. For the State Govt. this should be turned into a social study; how to attain a high quality society like Japan or Korea or Singapore. The original intention of creating this complex is to serve the community not chase after profits I assume. It is a noble intention from the spiritual and social point of view, if this intention gets railroaded down the road it would only be because of forgetting this intention. No doubt fame and fortune will follow in abundance if the original intention is adhered to.
Art to me is an expression of the human spirit and as such must be kept as pure,; Pure Arts. Art is the creative force that helps to mould the human mind towards being creative rather than destructive and at the same time it helps to decorate and cheer up the rest of the community while going about their daily lives; without artistic expressions a society is dead. The sense of awe and beauty gradually is eroded from the minds of the people. A piece of Art, an Artist or a group of Artists. sitting in a street corner sketching, is healing sight, it is like a subliminal sign that says slowdown, look, see; that the creative spirit is alive. 
Art records history without any bias as far as what the eyes can see, hence the need to preserve art for posterity. In a multi racial country Art through time becomes a catalyst that binds all cultures into a New Collective  Consciousness of mixed expressions in unity. No where in the world is the Malay more Malay, the Chinese more Chinese and the Indians more themselves than in Penang. The need to promote each cultural heritage has become a state pride instead of taking on new forms and identities suitable for a complete whole as a society; I am a Malaysian, my culture is and so is my heart and soul.  Steering the Art community towards creating the new from the old will help raise consciousness of Unity from diversity; the merging of difference. 
There are Creators- Preservers and Destroyers in any given society, each will play his role accordingly; it is our duty to ourselves to become one of the creators. It is the function of the Galleries and Museums to preserve and at the end of the day destruction does not take place, I lost many of my artworks through neglect, manhandling and just lack of respect and even theft in the past and this has been one of the reasons I just simply am not in the mood to be creative. Being a professional and lifelong artist is blessing as well as hell. Artist are among the poorest sods and comes close to being looked at as an unemployed bum; most if not all have their regular jobs to make ends meet. Art materials and other related accessories such as framing and having shows is next to impossible for most.  Art patrons are a rare specie these days as the economic crunch hits all. I consider myself a creator of Art, the galleries and museums the preserver of my works and not destroyers as I have experienced in the past after returning home. 
Then again Katsushika Hokusai died a pauper and look at where his works is today and how much they cost each. It is said that a man creates his best when under pressure but he also is most creative when his needs are met without making him feel needy. A true artist is one who lives life as one no matter the circumstances. He is true to his innate nature  and of being true to himself. He does not pander his self esteem does he advertise his ego; he is a man who look deeper within than most men. To be original is to be able to evoke from deep within whats is expressed without. He is self entertaining as he is able to allow his mind to explore all aspects of what creativity is. Being an artist is an Art in and of itself.