As a maldivian, and as an aspiting artist myself (visit my gallery), I thought we were quite creative. In general there is good taste amongst us. I am thankful that we can distinguish readily the ‘katu’ and ‘ori’ type of styles. But when we take a closer look at the visual arts, there is a whole different story to it. We are indeed ‘katu’ and ‘ori’. Why else would we be making copies of Hindi movies and Hindi songs? (And really bad versions of that too) Are we so incapable of coming up with a good idea for a movie? Or a nice melody for a song? With the number of film companies and teenagers going around with guitars on their backs, you might think of that we were bursting with creative energy. Even in the popular business of graphics design, where one would expect to see new ideas, you could hardly come across a piece of work that inspires you to stop and admire for a while. Website designs are terribly disappointing. Posters, brochures and all such print media clearly lack any originality.
Maybe the whole creative process is aimed in the wrong direction- commercialization. I know of a vocalist who records a song (sung to a Hindi tune of course) and gets paid 1000/- for it. Making money is easy in the ‘Albom’ industry and the movie industry. And we as the audience let them get away with substandard performances, either because we think that ‘rajje aa balaafa evaru rangalhennu!’ Or that we are too rich so we might as well pay, or we just don’t care.
Maybe it’s the first response that is the common consensus. And that maybe the reason for arts in Maldives not to flourish to its potential. And perhaps the current condition is fitting to our current social condition: our inability (or reluctance?) to express ourselves. Art is supposed to portray what the artist feels, or think and if there is nothing for the artist to express, what results would be as blank as his emotions.
I recently came across the website of the National Art Gallery of the Maldives. One thing that strikes you when you browse through the gallery is that how ‘Maldivian’ all the art works look. Palm trees and beaches, underwater scenery of fish, native children playing, and fishermen going about their daily chores. Is this only what all Maldivians are about? I am sure there is more to being a Maldivian than carrying a fishing rod. That ideal has long been lost with the newer generations who know that even though we are portrayed as a nation of fisherman ( “mas veri kamakee dhivehin ge ley naaru”), we are not so.
We are a nation that imports almost everything- economic, social, cultural, and even academic. And one has to wonder why art has not had any impact on it by such influences. Why are we so reluctant to experiment and to change? Is it because the public will buy or see whatever that is produced without question?
We should not let our artistic expressions be limited to or be confined by what the society ascribes to as being ‘maldivian art’. New avenues need to be explored; new forms of art have to be introduced. Art has to be seen more as an outlet of creative expression than a commercial enterprise.
Note: I salute all Maldivian artists (but not those in the movie and song industry) for their inspiring works of art.
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