Possible creativity or creative possibilities?

Just reading the newspapers yesterday gave me plenty to think about. And then of course the day's events added up, which includes the industry I work in.

TODAY had a comment piece about creativity. Its based on a quote from a recent interview they did with William Lim, "THE" William Lim of Singapore, one of the famous and I'd dare say, probabaly pioneer batches of local architects. He's renown for being extraordinarily vocal, about most things architecture and everything else that's vaguely related to that, ie design, creativity, etc. He said, that creativity cannot happen without chaos, and if the Singapore government were to allow for creativity to flourish and for Singapore to become a creative industries "HUB" (I swear I'm seriously developing a disdain for that word), the local government would have to be willing to allow for some chaos to occur. The article cited egs of countries such as Italy where its war and strife has brought forth their Michaelangelos and Leonard Da Vincis. They contrasted this to Switzerland with its decades of peace and brotherly love, and the most creative thing they've produced? The cuckoo clock.

So, in a bid to engage on a more intellectual level, I brought this up at dinner/coffee last night with my Boy. He brushed it off and muttered that this will never happen, as in the chaos. Singapore government will never allow it, he said, there's too much else at stake. Which I completely agree - its incredibly true. Why would we want to sacrifice our spanking clean and green image, with its clockwork-like business processes for some chaos?? It brings home the bacon, gives the country enough wealth to live on, and its people moderately happy.

Trust the unrealistic artsy fartsy peeps to make such comments. No sense of current reality. *tsktsk*

Ironically, we waltzed straight into the Budak Pantai concert. My Boy was determined to hate it from the start (coz he's not into the arts. Too self-indulgent, he said, I'm not impressed.) but ended up having a roaring good time. The boys were brilliant as usual, fantastic entertainers, and extremely creative with their arrangements and antics. And they were real people, with actual full time jobs and families, regular Singaporeans, but with a deep love for music and acapella singing. Watching them make me fiercely proud of the local arts scene, of the Budaks, the Singapore Gagas, and Theatre Festivals. We may not necessarily produce stuff that are "world class" acts (what is world class anyway right?? Hollywood?? - BaaaH!) but have a distinctly local flavour, and are deeply real, honest, heartfelt.

Can we say that this isn't a creative space? No. But I think we need to redefine our creative space, what we think creativity is. We may not produce the George Lucases and the Hollywood type movies. But we will carry a distinct essence of our own, a local flavour, a strong Singaporean identity. So what if we sing or explore the everyday things of our life like HDB flats and MRT trains?? Its our life, right here. Its not a romanticised life of New York subways and Parisian cafes, its just well, Singaporean. That's their reality, not ours. And it doesn't make our reality any less or more mundane in any way. Its as mundane as we want to make of it.

Have you read ST Life's Power List 2006? I was going through the arts list yesterday, and I have to say it makes me proud (almost made me cry! *haha*). The Singapore Biennale team deserved every bit of commendation for their work. They've received so much flake for what they were doing, yet persevered, pushed ahead, and I think they've achieved most of what they've set out to do. Sure there were glitches, points that could have been improved here and there, but all in all a fantastic effort - I mean, when did Singapore ever see contemporary art on the streets before the Biennale?? Hardly ever.

So MOVE OVER, all you colonial bullshit. Its an old skin that's not gonna work anymore. Its time for us to shine.

Been trying to read this impossible paper for work written by an NUS professor ALL DAY. I swear academics need to get a life.

In his paper, he's made a no. of what I think are rather irreverant remarks and expressed strong opinions, esp. criticising his own institution. I've been listening to academic-speak at many of the meetings I attend, and there's this obsessive need to "have a point of view" or "state their strong (and different) opinion" or stating an opinion for the sake of stating an opinion, etc. After a while, it doesn't wow me anymore. I'm like, yeah right.... so you have an opinion.....which doesn't make logical sense btw..... BIG DEAL.... (oh grow up!)...... *roll eyes*

I remember when I was younger, a student in NUS, all wide-eye and bushy-tale. Hearing different and many opinions (whether or not they necessarily made sense) wowed me to bits. For the first time in my life, there wasn't just one way of looking at things, at life. There were many, depending on your perspective.

Don't get me wrong. Having differing and even dissenting voices are very important in life - be it in an organisation, among friends, in civil society, and esp (if you ask me) in churches. its HOW you express and convey your differing views that will affect the health of the relationship/organisation/group. But otherwise, opinions and views are good - they keep the place/relationship thinking on their feet, robust, and constantly learning from each other. We also learn to agree to disagree, which is part and parcel of growing. That's how we make each other better, we help the place/organisation grow.

But when I have an opinion for the sake of demonstrating that I HAVE an opinion (read between the lines: for self-gain/glory rather than the betterment of the relationship/organisation), I think that's just wrong. Its also no way to live a life, all angsty and self-obsessed. And honestly, after a while, your opinion's really not all that new or startling anymore. Its RECYCLED. =P