Eternally grateful to be Malaysian....

I am now about 4 hours away from berbuka puasa. I have booked a placed that is supposed to serve quite nice seafood at a reasonable price. Ramadhan always remind me of how lucky I am to be a Malaysian. Why you may ask, well for one, I am lucky because since I was a child I have benefited from all sorts of government programmes that has made me who I am now. I am lucky because when I graduated there was no such thing not able to find a job as long as you're not picky over things that you want to do. I am lucky because I live in a country that is in peace and harmony where people are tolerant of each other. I have always wished that nobody would come along and just trash all these things away just because they want to fulfill their own political ambition.

Ramadhan always remind me of places that I've been to where life is hard and difficult. It reminds me of a young child in the streets of Bandung who wears mask and dance to the tune from the stereo to collect contribution from the cars that stopped at the traffic light. It reminds me of the family living under the highway in the downtown Jakarta with no running water nor proper sewerage. It reminds me of suburbs Addis Ababa where a young girl carrying a load of firewood walking towards the city to sell them for a small amount which then used to buy flour and other essential ingredient to prepare "Engera" and gravy just for a day. The cycle just go on and on each day with no possibility of any break to the cycle. There are other old women who has done it all their lives. Ramadhan also reminds me of the streets of Karachi where young boys fight over an empty bottles that they collect to sell them to the nearby small factories that recycle them. These people live on constant hunger and dilapidated home. And yet some of the happiest people you could find are amongst these people. The less wants you have the happier you become seems to carry some weight in the life of these people. I wish I took some photographs of these people and keep them for my children sake. They need to appreciate what they get growing up in the country is million times better than what some people in other parts of the world is getting.

But actually so do we..... my 2 cents worth... jumpa lagi....

Malaysian Art Scene

I have been interested in arts ( I am talking only about paintings here - sculptures and the rest of it has yet to attract my interest) since the days in university when I was on constant look out for past masters' cheap reproduction. As many of us know, as a student, I did not have the means to get the best of them and had to settled for prints and the kind.

As I started working all the struggles were for the normal things that many young people would aspire for e.g house, cars and the immediate family needs. The interest in arts has taken a back seat. Recently I have taken back into paintings though I am more interested in the works of our fellow countrymen (I still buy some cheap oil painting reproduction of the past masters' imported from China at a reasonable price). I like some of the works and frequently visited many of the mushrooming art galleries in Kuala Lumpur. Much to my chagrin, however, I find myself being outpriced again.

I am just wondering whether art works are meant for the super rich or is it intended for the masses? I am of the opinion that Malaysian artists have unintentionally directed their market to the super rich. Let's face it, I am not in the position to splash out RM 5K - 10 K for an oil painting just so I could decorate my living room with, there's alot of other prints and whatnots that could make my living room look just as nice. I just want to be able to enjoy the work (I am an amateur artist that paints for himself for the sheer joy of the experience). I know that these professional artist are trying to make a living but a good business person would definitely want to expand their market and get more volume than just several pieces a month being sold. I know that corporate clientele would not flinch at RM 5K per piece of work but just imagine how much work they could sell if the prices are reasonable and within reach of the masses?

The case is strikingly similar to the issues of our artists of different nature aka singers and film producers. If they make it more reasonable for the massess to buy original CDs & DVDs then people would definitely choose quality over cheap pirated products that once was so pervasive in our culture and I bet still is despite many efforts from the authority.

The local arts scene seems to be only the playground for the rich and famous here in our country. I really wish it is part of the culture of common people like me who has the interest but not the means to be part of it.

Just my 2 cents worth.. jumpa lagi...

p/s Anyone can recommend me a good art gallery with reasonable price range is most appreciated.