Art Inspiration Beauty

2 conversations about art, inspiration and beauty these 2 days.

I show a designer (first time in Singapore) the Singapore skyline. He is immediately captivated by one building and keeps asking me about it.

What is interesting is that the building he likes is not one of the usual suspects but the little known Singtel building at the side. Who designed it he asks. Why the metal pillars. I am unable to answer as my eyes, after many years of sweeping that scene, tend to focus on the centrepieces.

I then wonder what it means to be an artist. Is it the pursuit of understanding by another? If so, by one or many? By the one who matters or anyone? There are those pieces that art critics argue about, writing many pages of critique. But as an artist, would you be happier if an untrained eye fixes on it and says the 'I like it'? To be understood is perhaps an artist's greatest tragedy and fulfilment.

A second conversation where someone tells me that there is no inspiration to be had in Singapore. No open fields,vast landscapes to find oneself. But I find it strange. Surely there are sentiments that can be expressed. Surely there must be someone in a concrete jungle who can identify with those sentiments.

Otherwise, we are all lonely people.