'Irrational to expect artists to avoid political commentary'
Published: Feb 14, 2014 1:17 PM | Updated: Feb 14, 2014 5:29 PM
Selangor state assembly deputy speaker Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad today said it is “irrational” to expect artists to avoid commentary on social and political issues in their works.
UPDATED 5.30PM
Nik Nazmi slams the move to remove two artworks.
Selangor state assembly deputy speaker Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad today said it is “irrational” to expect artists to avoid commentary on social and political issues in their works.
Criticising the move to remove two artworks from the final of a premier arts competition at the National Visual Arts Gallery (Balai Seni), by the gallery itself, Nik Nazmi said the clampdown on freedom of expression is now spreading to arts.
An artwork called ‘alksnaabknuaunmo’ by Cheng Yen Pheng was removed from the Bakat Muda Sezaman 2013 (Young Contemporaries) award yesterday despite being on display since October last year.
‘Alksnaabknuaunmo’ is an anagram for ‘Asalkan Bukan Umno’ (Anything but Umno).
Apart from this, the T-shirt printed with the Arabic letters ‘Fa’ and ‘Qof’ by artist Izat Arif Saiful Bahri was also removed.
“Expecting artists to avoid commentary on social and political issues is hence irrational and defeats the purpose of having institutions like the National Visual Arts Gallery in the first place,” the PKR state assemblyperson for Seri Setia said in a statement.
“When all is said and done, the arts - via its various mediums - are mirrors of the concerns and prevalent issues of society,” he said.
Meanwhile, DAP Youth had also criticised the banning of the two artworks, saying that the unprofessional action violated creative freedom.
It demanded an explanation as to why the two artworks were removed from a premier art competition.
The wing’s central committee member Mahdzir Ibrahim, who is a fine arts graduate, said DAP wants to know the justification in removing the works although being selected for the finals by the professional jury.
"Based on the Malaysiakini report, the jury did not know of the matter as the organiser did not give any explanation for this. This led to a situation that is not only confusing and we demand the organiser to explain.
"We in DAP Youth view the matter seriously as this unprofessional action is a violation of freedom of expression and creative freedom," he added.
Mahdzir viewed the removal as continuous discrimination against artistes, similar to the work of Ernest Zacharevic being removed and the controversy surrounding DAP MP Teresa Kok’s video.
"Instead propaganda material like 'Tanda Putera' are given big space and coverage by the media," he said.
Criticising the move to remove two artworks from the final of a premier arts competition at the National Visual Arts Gallery (Balai Seni), by the gallery itself, Nik Nazmi said the clampdown on freedom of expression is now spreading to arts.
An artwork called ‘alksnaabknuaunmo’ by Cheng Yen Pheng was removed from the Bakat Muda Sezaman 2013 (Young Contemporaries) award yesterday despite being on display since October last year.
‘Alksnaabknuaunmo’ is an anagram for ‘Asalkan Bukan Umno’ (Anything but Umno).
Apart from this, the T-shirt printed with the Arabic letters ‘Fa’ and ‘Qof’ by artist Izat Arif Saiful Bahri was also removed.“Expecting artists to avoid commentary on social and political issues is hence irrational and defeats the purpose of having institutions like the National Visual Arts Gallery in the first place,” the PKR state assemblyperson for Seri Setia said in a statement.
“When all is said and done, the arts - via its various mediums - are mirrors of the concerns and prevalent issues of society,” he said.
Meanwhile, DAP Youth had also criticised the banning of the two artworks, saying that the unprofessional action violated creative freedom.
It demanded an explanation as to why the two artworks were removed from a premier art competition.
The wing’s central committee member Mahdzir Ibrahim, who is a fine arts graduate, said DAP wants to know the justification in removing the works although being selected for the finals by the professional jury.
"Based on the Malaysiakini report, the jury did not know of the matter as the organiser did not give any explanation for this. This led to a situation that is not only confusing and we demand the organiser to explain.
"We in DAP Youth view the matter seriously as this unprofessional action is a violation of freedom of expression and creative freedom," he added.
Mahdzir viewed the removal as continuous discrimination against artistes, similar to the work of Ernest Zacharevic being removed and the controversy surrounding DAP MP Teresa Kok’s video.
"Instead propaganda material like 'Tanda Putera' are given big space and coverage by the media," he said.
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