Insignificant

Q - Until today, society cant understand art.

A – to start with – what sort of society? Higher/elite class, middle class or working class? No doubt the elite able to appreciate the orchestra, enjoy long hours contemplating in art galleries, musing about strokes – ooh ahh at everything, talk until wee hours of how this and that’s. Just like any designers took 40 minutes commenting on the kerning of a font. 

The middle class are busy toiling away, raking in more cash, sending their kids to the best schools hoping/praying/doing what the very best that their kids will be better off / successful than they are.

The working class/blue collar class pulak – busy working non-stop, feeding their 5 – 6 kids, sending them to national schools, staying in small rented 3 room house or in the flats.

Put yourself in small cramp space, with babies crying, neighbours bickering and someone cooking something, the smell goes into your room.

I immediately will grabmy motorbike keys - unleash all these frustrations on the road. So next time, if you want to comment on those Mat Rempit’s – see where they live and you will see why they like to be like superman at 3am on the federal highway first before putting any judgments or comments.

Who is buying and appreciate art?

Take a look at the Maslow hierarchy. See those basic needs that need to be fulfilled first. If I don’t have any food to eat, what is my motivation to understand how Modernism works. A real work of art cannot lie. It will stir something inside us.

Art as a social critic.

Imagine an artist using artworks to comment on something, voicing out their opinion. Its just like commenting in facebook  ( farting in the wind ) - and if they lucky, someone will press the “like” button. 

The social media now is interesting as everyone can be an expert on something on anything. Again – its all about comments - nothing more, nothing less.

what im seeking and looking out for is action. 

Does the artwork produced able to feed 7 kids? If they do - then it's awesome. Does any installation in the gallery able to make a family of 12 live more peacefully? 

Takat sembang, kutuk, criticize, dropping comments – hello….everyone can do that.

Does any images painted – created - able to inspire, cure those who are sick, help the ill purchasing medicines, the hungry got food, the poor get some cash to pay their monthly commitments?

Rather than asking these sort of guys go to the gallery, why don’t art galleries bring the art to them.

I personally seen an autistic kid jumping up and down in front of a mural and im not lying. That action proved to me and the rest that we are doing the right thing.

Hold on.

Talking about appreciating art, well hello - God and the universe never failed to gift us wonderful 365 days of sunsets and sunrise. That is million times better than any Monet or the Impressionists. Yet, most of us choose to admire those artists copying reality.

Funny right?

Itu kita cakap bangang!!!

What im trying to say here – any artworks created must carry some beneficial, tangible outcomes and carthasis experience to the audience. Put yourself as the audience first rather than blaming the audience. That is the reason why Calvin and Hobbes remained one of my favorite cartoon strip and me placing Dalai Lama on the same level with Rowan Atkinson’s Bean or Stephen Chow Sing Chi.

Why?

Because they able to make my bad days simply go away. Just give me one sensible reason why I should see one tragic work of art after spending 6 hours in the traffic light, dealing with bad drivers and so on. Just take one look at the front page of any newspaper that is more tragic than anything I can imagine or think of.

I need laughter, while rest of you – I BELIEVE - need some form of distraction.

Its your choice when it comes to choosing your distraction.

But don’t make other people feel bad when they don’t agree with your form of distraction.

Paham?

That is why Maharaja Lawak is renewed again and again. Mind you, Calvin and Hobbes and Mr Bean’s narrative able to make me ponder, feel alive and good while Maharaja Lawak able to make me unsubscribe Astro once and for all.

In the end of the day – just know that all of us will die and realize that our life is short. Imagine the Grim Reaper will ask you – are you happy with your Life and what you had done?

If you are not – then Do it NOW.

Tak payah sembang ok.

Before you want to judge or drop any comments, know everyone is not perfect. 

let me remind you – our life is short and all of us will DIE.

so please, just once or twice - dont take yourself so seriously ok. 

Its not worth it. 

this note is dedicated to the ones who i know the closest, the ones who kenal my perangai, my motivations, who able to understand what im doing, collaborated with me in several projects. Deep down in my heart - im grateful and appreciated what you had done. May all of us be free from any physical, mental suffering, any harm and danger and be well and happy. 

Use the force always.