16/9/11 ARTS AND CHARACTERS OF A PESON AND NATION

(If one visit, the ruin of the Angkor Wat, their artists, young and veteran are there, they paint mostly the numerous images of Angkor Wat. Their painting are cheap in fact. Price from U$15-100.00 a piece. What does that mean? I purposely shot this image, which I called Window to Heaven to complement the feeling of the Cambodian young and veteran artists that I met

Leorando Da Vinci, lots of people know him. Among his most popular works were Monalisa and the Last Supper. In fact the Last Supper inspired the making of the movie of the Da Vinci Code where, among some Christians, they are working hard to proof that Mary exist in Jesus Christ life, ie Mary apart from his very mother. Monalisa is speculated as probably was that Mary. Leonardo was not only popular because of Monlaisa and the Last Supper. He painted many other new ideas that had inspired others to be much creative. He painted lots of mechanical sketching. Thereon others invent plane, cars and other machineries.

(2) Painting had played as a way for a society or person to record their experience and or lay their expression or thought. The anciet Egyptians are well known for this. The same with the Persian, Greek and Roman. Artists were nutured and given big task to paint whatever the emperors or the upper class love.

(3) During the World War II (WWII), the very first thing that the German (and Italian) love to take home were paintings. The army generals made huge collection of painting and shifted them over to their homeland. When Hitler came to power, he instructed the Modern Art of the Jew influenced painting to be destroyed. To Hitler, the Abstract Modern Painting by the Jews was the manisfestation of the manipulative mind of the Jews especilly in business and financial matters. He wanted a straight nice German potraits. Through the invention of colors, the German later became leader in inventing paints and colors. Thereon they moved into photograpy, and even telegraphy.

(4) Painting in fact are very dear to the Spanish, Dutch, Portugese, Italian, Angloes, Ire, and Scottist. They painted nature, potraits, institutions and later move into abstract. The Chinese, Indian, Korean and Japanese are also well known for their specialty and unique painting styles.

(5) Painting in fact is one of a subject that I love much. Unfortunately, I had denied my painting skill the moment I entered the Science Stream High School. Painting had helped me alot in my Biological related subjects that I took at the undergrad level. Painting also had given me some vision into my thinking process especially in trying to put something beautiful and meaningful for the society. My regional, even town and local planning skill development and practices are very much related to my painting liking. Nowaday, I had shifted painting to photography which as much as possible also a symbolic of my painting affinity.

(6) Going around the ASEAN countries, I have the much liking of the Indonesian works. They seem much diverse, matured, and really unique. The Indonesian artists work on reality of lives as well as vision of the future in many forms including the abstract. The Buddhist, Hindus, Dutch and Portugese seem to influence them very much. Secondly are the works of the Philippines artist. Again their paintings are very much influenced by the Spanish. The local adopted well the Spanish style in painting their past, present and future lives line.

(7) The Thai, Burmese, Laos and Cambodia are very much Buddhist influence. Their painting carries lots of the Buddhist or Hindus elements. Vietnam tend to have a blend of Buddhism and Chinese. My visits to these countries had clearly indicating a drastic shift from the previous nature and peasant lives potrayal to the much religious elements liking. Surely, personal potraits and images of leaders are also their main focus. All these, in fact psychologically an indication of the people especially the artist psychological shift in feeling. Potrayal of peasants lives probably wouldn't buy any sympathy to their inner cries, thus they are looking toward God and hopefully their leaders for the needed hands.

(8) If one really care, there is a great similarity in the ASEAN nation painting effect or vice versa. One may observe the bit, batik, and all those wood craft among the ASEAN nation, from Thailand-Laos to Indonesia, are of almost of similar motives. Thus arts in general, and painting in particular can be a source of national and international integration and even a great economic asset. It is a matter how do we take that craftmanship or artistic view into say te Japanese into a fine dinning restaurant, or the German-Switz turn all those into the finest watch making.

(9) Malayisian, the Malays artist at Pasar Seni for instance, they love too much to paint Najib, Rosmah and Siti Norhaliza photoes that in one way or another made us not being independent and wild creative enough. I believe, Rais Yatim need to do something fast to nurture and develop our artistic and craftmanship into a national assets and unifying factors.



Siem Reap, Cambodia
5 Sept., 2011