Ching Chong Ching Chong

It's week 10 already and I have only written 6 posts so this will be my 7th blog post.
Today Gary will talk about Chinese Opera, or what we call 大戲 (Da xi).
That was the traditional Malaysian art form that my group chose for the assignment.
Given so many weeks to research and write the report but just starting to do the week before submission, this is the common problem of UTARians (or can I say, every college students?).
Last week we had the opportunity to watch live Chinese Opera performance, and interview the performers. It was the first time in my life to watch Chinese Opera.
The details will be written in the report and presented in the class so I won't talk much about it here but
what I want to say is, Chinese Opera, or even other forms of traditional Malaysian arts are dying, not slowly, but rapidly. Lesser and lesser people will appreciate these arts as technology has taken over every form of entertainments in our society. Younger generations would not ever think of attending any traditional art performances to seek for entertainment or to appreciate it, not even me. If this subject doesn't exists, I would not have the chance to watch Chinese Opera.
I said that art isn't art any more nowadays in my last post and traditional arts are dying in this post. Does this means all art will rot and people will forget about their existence?
No I don't think so.
Art is like energy.
Energy cannot be destroyed. It will only transform from one form to another. Just like art.
One day, traditional art will probably disappear but, it will not be destroyed. It will continue to exists in our world in other form. Most probably in other contemporary arts, or even in the memory of people. It may not exists the way it used to be, but its spirit will remain in the heart of people.

A lil sneak peek of the Chinese Opera.

Robbing the art

Is art art?

Or rather a money making tool?

This is the question that comes into my mind after visiting Bank Negara's art gallery.

Art, created for the purpose of art. 

For the artist to express their inner thoughts and feelings.

To send a message or two to the people.

As something relaxing, or bringing joy to people.

Making people thinking about the line between the reality and the fantasy.

Bringing out the inner peace in people.

Beautifying the world.

Transforming our world to a better place.

Those used to be the reasons why art was created.

BUT NOW.

Everything's changed.

Art has turned into some money making tool.

People create art for the sake of money.

Corporations, companies, banks, upper class people, and filthy rich humans, are buying and collecting arts.

For what?

As they await, for the value to increase. For them to sell when the value, or price has peaked. So that they can gain profit, thus becoming richer. And richer. And richer.

This is what art has become? Collecting for the purpose of profits?

This is wrong on so many levels.

Arts are arts. Not something that you create or buy for the sake of money.

They should be created as an art, sold as an art, and die as an art.

People who does not appreciate art for its beauty, for its message behind the piece, do not have the rights to create nor purchase art.

Sadly, we have no control over this.

Because we are poor, and the world is dominated by the rich.

And that is the reality.

Pathetic.

Art is no longer art.

And I will mourn for this great loss of our world.

Sold for 44 million dollars. Is it still art?