Weekend...

Walking along the underpass leading to the esplanade and was discussing with him about the art piece by ye shufang adorning the length of the wall. It has little coloured circles that looked like what you would find in a nippon catalog, except bigger. He told me its a form of op-art. Op as in optic. Reminded me alittle of what we learned about perception in psychology. In any case, it was a saturday night, walking and talking about art when we noticed little indentations and holes made by poking with a finger along the huge art piece. Just as we were lamenting on the lack of public courtesy towards public art works, a group of teenagers came walking towards us, alongside the art work, happily punching holes with their fingers laughingly. And mind you, these do not look like young punks or juvenile deliquents either. There looked like kids straight out from church, or sport camps, in berms and t-shirts, sneakers and glasses. An average teenager. An average teenager that believes in nothing wrong with willfully destroying public art on display. Looking at them walking passed us giggling as one of the girls repeated could not punch in a hole, i was almost shaking with anger. Just i was ready to shout at them when i heard a voice beside me shouted out to them, "Show some respect! This is public art.". They looked around in surprise, and some laughed uneasily while others whispered loudly about "making some people angry". By golly we were angry alright. I couldn't understand how people can be so blatantly destroying public property like this. It is like as long as it ain't mine, heck, who cares? But then, why am i surprise? This is not the first time, nor the last time similar things have happened. But i guess i am just upset at the audacity of it all, vandalizing something right in public, daring to do it infront of the busy human traffic, not fugitively away from other eyes. Why? Because they felt safe that no one would say anything. The blatant disregard of all else that is not your own. And it is true, no one said anything that day and everyone looked shock or ashamed when someone did speak up. Why?

Similar incident in the asian civilization museum today where young children ran unbridle through the newly renovated museum with its interesting projections and interactive monitors. Parents letting their children bang on the monitors unconcerned and unfazed by the potential destructive nature of their children's mishandling of the equipment around. How would these children grow up to be? I wonder what is the point of spending so much money for. In any case, i beseech all who is interested in history and wants to take a good look at the ACM to go soon before everything breaks down because at the rate that the public is going, things are not going to be good condition for very long.

While i cannot help but feel sad about how things are, i want to say that i am very proud of him for saying what many others did not and for saying it before i did. Yes. Do please all show some respect to things that are not yours. How would you all like it if i go to your house and poke some holes in your walls and bang on your televisions?