What Is Art

What is Art? Art as a tool of expression has always been a subject often dwelled upon by artists and the general public alike. However, also dwelled upon by a fraction of these same group is that the ‘expression’ meant in that sense of the work should not be disputable or debatable. It is as though their works should be treated like ‘god’s command’ or as a commandment that should in no circumstances be questioned. It is in utter dismay then for their works then boil down to nothing but mere narration. Is a picture of a flower really just that? Could it be that the same picture also inherits exploratory notions or concepts that may not be as apparent? Could it be that the flower pictured also speaks of a lone soul whose journey was peppered with much grief? A mountain is a mountain. A mountain is not a mountain. A mountain is a mountain. A zen philosophy taught to me by my lecturer back when I was still a student. Till today however, the philosophy is something that I still hold on dearly to and still ponder upon in search of a meaning towards. That one zen philosophy along with the many others that he has taught me or I may have picked up along the way. Art can be looked upon as a tool that explores a certain subject. The artist in turn may choose to express and propel the findings thru his craft. His craft then of course might just lead to the intended audience thirsting for an answer which in ultimatum should be found only by himself. Crafts are like poetry. The poet is nothing more than a mere messenger whose thoughts are penned and arranged on a piece of paper. The message in turn is intended for the perceiver or receiver of this message who would ultimately decide whether or not he likes the ‘message’. When then does poetry begin? Simple. Poetry is the very act that connects the message to the receiver of messages. The line which connects this two entities. That is poetry. The same ideology can also be used for works like painting or dance for example. The choreographer is nothing more than an arranger and explorer of forms who may use these forms to convey a certain message to an intended audience. The audience, being the receiver of the message, then receives this message and reacts accordingly. Where then does the essence of dance lie in? Simple, as reflected in the paragraph above, dance lies when the tools of the choreographer(the dancers) react to a given space and discover the potentiality of a given space to its full maximum while the essence of art would lie in the line that connects the receiver of the message to the craft played upon by the dancers. It is sad when artists believe that their craft should never be disputed or questioned for there would never be any magic in the work produced.

Where then has catharsis gone to? Isn’t the very essence of catharsis is to evoke a certain sense or experience in a person? How then can anything possibly be evoked when questioning is taboo. Then, questions do not become a tool to understand or learn but is automatically perceived as a tool used to provoke. Is art really just a tool or message of aesthetic quality and stopping just at that? Are works only considered to be deserving enough to be recognised as art if it appears on stage or in a museum? Are the voices of artists really that superior as compared to the voices of the people on the streets that they should never be disputed upon? If so, it is in complete irony then for even religions encourage disputes coming in the form of questions for only then can it be understood. Artists in actual fact do not fear audiences at all. It is audiences that think that they fear. Cogito Ergo Sum. I think therefore I am. A timeless quote from Descartes. Till today, what he says still remain to be relevant and true but it is in utter dismal when we learn that amongst those who are able to think, they actually fear others who think as well or people who think otherwise. Yet, thinking is the very essence of ‘being’ and ‘being’ is the very essence that would give soul to a work or person. No artwork is ever finished. There is no such thing as a finished artwork for ‘finish’ just means that its the end of the pieces’ life. As how Leonardo Da Vinci would have put it, “Finishing an art is to rob it of its soul”. Isn’t discussions vital then in ensuring that the work is not finished and can it not be used as a measure of the works’ success? After all, if people talk about it, it means that people notice and we all know that when people notice, it means that our message has been delivered. It is up to the receiver to comprehend the fact on whether or not it should be perceived as art. The onus is on the receiver. Artists should acknowledge the fact that their works would not only affect themselves as a person but rather may also affect the social, political, economical, cultural, traditional and racial climate of a person. Their works stand as a personification of their thoughts and symbolise nothing more other than being an amplification of a message. Muhammad Jailani b. Abu Talib 7th November, 2007 [email protected]

** Writer is a Singapore-based artist. He has also been involved in an eclectic mix of art forms, including dance, theatre, martial arts, lighting design, costume design, graphic design, interior design and videography. His works has been staged in Korea, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore. He is also a poet and art critique. His

literary works has been published in Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia. In 2007, he was invited to give a seminar in Indonesian Arts Institute, Jogjakarta, Indonesia on the issue of contemporary Malay dance in Singapore. In 2008 and 2009 respectively, the was invited to present his research papers on Contemporary Malay Culture and Malay Magic at National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological Institute, Singapore. He is currently the president of University of Malaya’s Malay Language Society and Head of Corporate Communications and Image Development in Singapore Writers’ Movement ’50.