A Different Future

Admittedly I was a little surprised, and somewhat excited, to be invited to the launch of the 1Malaysia Contemporary Arts Tourism Festival 2012. I was puzzled and quietly expectant too when I read the programme of events for that day. The events included a speech by YB Minister for Tourism Malaysia and the launch of an arts competition entitled – 1Malaysia – The Futurists. I was more than a little curious to see that The (Italian) Futurists were alive and well and encamped within this particular neck of the equator.

   That afternoon, there was the usual speechifying by the government minister – the hand shaking and back slapping. Smiles fairly beamed from the stage at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, lighting those examples of Malaysian art displayed for the purpose of the festival - adorning one side of that quite spacious hall, on level three. At one point in the proceedings a gigantic replica eye – like something out of a Dali film or Redon pastel, was lit and revolved revealing – well, very little actually. It was all a little bizarre.

   My view of the stage was constantly obstructed by a female photographer. She just would not take no for an answer - not even when asked to back off by the slightly miffed YB minister herself, so I apologize in advance if I missed the reference to The Futurists, but I am not conscious of having heard any reference to that bright band of Italian artists who had created their particular world view during the early years of the 20^th century. There were no manifestos manifesting themselves, no painterly references to the future, speed, technology, youth, cars, airplanes or industrial cities. No Filippo Tommaso Marinetti, Umberto Boccioni, or Carlo Carrà either - I was somewhat befuddled.

   It seems that it was yet another of those cultural misunderstandings that I have been having so frequently - since I decided to lay my hat on a metaphorical hat peg, within my miniscule apartment on the fringes of the main Malaysian metropolis. The Italian Futurists and their love of machines, movement, and fascism were obviously not the focus of an arts competition. The term ‘The Futurists’ had been high jacked by possibly well meaning, but perhaps a tad confused, committee attending to the day to day affairs of the aforementioned 1Malaysia Contemporary Arts Tourism Festival 2012 and paid no heed to the previous art movement of the very same name..

   Having been kept on tender hooks for practically the whole event, I had no choice but to shuffle down in my seat, ignore the annoying photographer (and the gentleman with the mop of silvery hair immediately before me), and get on with enjoying the show. And there was much to enjoy too.

   Ramli Ibrahim and the Sutra Foundation dancers were stunning. The whole ensemble – dancers, Ramli himself - the lighting and music gave us more than our money’s worth. Ok, yes I was a VIP guest so it was free, but you know what I mean. It was superb. The dance theme appeared to be spirit and the emancipation of women, but I could be wrong. It was a sheer delight and continues to occupy my thoughts some hours now from the actual event.

   The anklung musician was a surprise as well. Despite having been resident in Malaysia for some eight years, I had not heard one of these bamboo instruments played until the launch of 1Malaysia Contemporary Arts Tourism Festival 2012. 

   Perhaps I should explain - the anklung is an instrument made from hollow bamboo. It resonates when struck and generally is comprised of two bamboo resonators tuned to complimentary notes. The instrument is shaken to produce its unique note. But - joy upon joy, there was not just a solo artist - but eventually a whole orchestra – admittedly of school children, but an orchestra nevertheless, who played beautifully as my wife and I hastened off as work beckoned at that point.

   All in all the 1Malaysia Contemporary Arts Tourism Festival 2012 was an interesting experience – but no Futurists. I idly wonder what that art tourism concerned committee might come up with next year – Post-Impressionist painters – who paints indentations made by posts or Dadaist creatives who only make images of their fathers, perhaps. It therefore should be most interesting - when the future finally arrives.