- Y.M

Dude, the director’s speech reads pretty differently. Mmm just that both of you referred to the great Wiki goddess huh?

Kami amat terharu diatas keprihatinan tuan mengenai ucapan ketua pengarah Balai Seni Lukis Negara, Dr. Mohamed Najib Ahmad Dawa yang dikatakan merujuk kepada artikel tuan. Untuk menjelaskan keadaan yang sebenar, kami muatnaikkan ucapan beliau untuk dikongsi bersama.

“(Salutations)

Ladies and gentlemen, I feel honored and privileged that I was asked to deliver a speech for tonight’s opening ceremony, especially since it’s for an old acquaintance, the painter En.Rafiee Ghani, who has come a long way since the 1980’s to be where he is today.

I’ve been keeping track of his steady rise to fame through sheer hard work, determination and artistic ingenuity, which should serve as an inspiration for us all, especially the younger generation of artists.

Ladies and gentlemen, when I found out that the title of Rafiee’s latest exhibition was called ‘Rainbow Warrior’, I imagine the works to be about muscular warriors engaging in manly pursuits and other acts of chivalry, beautifully depicted in Rafiee’s trademark, loud, bold colors and energetic, expressive strokes.

But I suspect that the artist, famous for his depiction of serene and domestic scenes through his wonderful series of works in ‘The Hanging Garden’, ‘Kebun Sultan Series’, ‘Room of Flowers’, ‘Painted Garden’ and many more would not suddenly shift his eyes on something so aggressive and violent, which is contrary to his gentle nature.

Another thought came to mind, which is the name of the ship owned by the radical environmentalist group Green Peace. This NGO has been at the fore front protesting against the rape and destruction of the environment by greedy corporations and nuclear tests by repressive governments since the 70’s till now.

But then again, our friend here is not a member of Green Peace nor are the works about the environment, the daring legendary exploits and the tragic story behind the ship itself or the on going activities of Green Peace today.

So I decided to do some research and found out that the name ‘rainbow warrior’ was inspired by a Native American mythology belonging to the ‘Hopi’ tribe about the fulfillment of a prophecy. Allow me to quote the passage which goes something like this:

“There will come a time when the Earth grows sick and when it does a tribe will gather from all the cultures of the World who believe in deed and not words. They will work to heal it…they will be known as the “Warriors of the Rainbow.”

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/warriors_of_the_rainbow.

I doubt that Rafiee, who is a practicing Muslim, would work towards the fulfillment of the prophecies of the Hopi’s instead of his own chosen faith. So strike that thought out as well.

I know that Rafiee, in his artist statement, has asked the viewers not to be concern with meaning, ‘that to appreciate modern contemporary art, one is to put meaning aside’. The well traveled painter has stressed that his works are about ‘feelings’. Take for example a quotable quote from him” I am not painting melons or mangoes. I am painting my ‘feelings’ about melons and mangoes’.

So after looking at his latest series of paintings and reading the curator’s essay, I feel I kind of understand what he is trying to say through his depictions of children, especially of his sons and his own nostalgic trip down memory lane captured in colorful Kodak moments. Yes, the feelings of happiness and contentment are evident, but an expression of hope, freedom and right to dream, and to the fulfillment of those dreams are also present.

Ladies and gentlemen, allow me to elaborate. As adults our heads are made cunning and our hearts become hard through life’s harsh experiences and disappointments. But Rafie, as though through his works are telling us that if we were to see the world again through the child’s innocent eyes and feel with the child’s pure heart, we will see that ’life is good and everything is alright’.

I see the works on display at Galeri Chandan tonight as a form of dedication to all the rainbow warriors within us all who will ‘Believe in deeds and not words’, who will work towards the betterment of mankind and for the future generations to come. So let open your eyes, minds and hearts to these special, intimate moments and be inspire to see that ‘ life is good and everything is alright’.

Thank You.”

Satu Malaysia-

Rakyat didahulukan, Pencapaian diutamakan.

As I say above there is always the vaguest of possibilities that someone did exactly the same research as me.

Perhaps you would like to write a letter to Dr. Najib and Balai on this matter?

Also before everyone jumps to conclusions I would just like to throw out there that many directors of institutions (not just in Malaysia) do not write their own speeches.

The plagarism, if there was any, could most likely be much further down the line.

Now there is a vague possibility that Dr Mohd Najib Ahmad Dawa did exactly the same research as myself, and therefore came up with words, in English, which approximated my own. This is entirely possible, not probable, but possible.

I should feel flattered that Dr Mohd Najib Ahmad Dawa should chose to approximate my writing, however I feel cheated, as there was no mention of the above article.

I feel futher cheated that such an elevated man as Dr Mohd Najib Ahmad Dawa should not care enough about the artist, the work or the establishment in which he was speaking, to care to express original ideas about Rafiee Ghani and his work.