Artists may not be essential for survival, but they are essential for living.
Without them, life would be so bland. Including your newspaper graphics.
Yesterday, a poll featured in the Sunday Times has sparked some controversy amongst Singaporeans. The article featured a ranking of what 1000 Singaporeans thought of as the most essential jobs, set against a list of the least essential jobs. Perhaps unsurprisingly to some, ‘Artists’ topped the list for the latter.
I always found it funny how in typical Asian fashion, most Singaporean parents always saw it a need for their kids to learn how to play the piano or violin, and would not hesitate to spend hours nagging at them to practice. Not to mention the money spent on this ‘side hobby’, since music lessons don’t come cheap either. It is often joked about how the conspicuous black upright piano in the living room is a staple in most Asian households.
But when it comes to choosing a career, these parents would probably shake their heads at the thought of their kids becoming a cellist or illustrator. A career in the arts industry is just too fragile and unheard of. ‘Stable’ and ‘profitable’ are adjectives rarely used to describe a profession in the arts industry. ‘Passion’? You likely had a much higher probability.
I understand the furore that the article has brought, especially to artists who have spent years (and even decades) perfecting their craft. To see all your time and hard work simply dismissed as “non-essential” — even if taken slightly out of context — can be so frustrating. But I also want to attempt to unpack the logic behind the Sunday Times article and what it reveals about us Singaporeans. So here goes.
I see two different layers to unpack here:
- The context of the article
- General sentiments towards the Arts in Singapore, particularly as a career
Let’s talk about the article first. Since the article does not define the job scope of ‘Artists’ (which is a whole other topic in itself), I will use it as an umbrella term for anyone working in the arts industry. Initially, I didn’t see anything offensive with the article. To its credit, the context of the article is set during a pandemic. It would thus make sense that jobs deemed ‘essential’ during COVID-19 would consist of frontliners, such as health workers, cleaners, garbage collectors and deliverymen. These people help to keep the country running and well-functioning, when the majority of us are social distancing at home. Any other jobs would then fall into the category of ‘non-essential’, where they are relatively not as important in a time when there is a dangerous virus going around.
Should the government have two choices between allocating the budget to funding a new blockbuster movie or developing a COVID-19 vaccine, I think it will choose the latter. While entertainment has undoubtedly been key in making quarantine much more bearable for us, it is still a luxury we can afford to lose, only when faced with the alternative of a potential solution to an extremely life-threatening virus.
Looking at it from the context of COVID-19, ‘non-essential’ then certainly does not mean ‘irrelevant’.
However, at the same time, it is hard to overlook the underlying message of this article. That is, the overall sentiments of Singaporeans towards having a career in the Arts. And this is where the article goes wrong.
Is having a secondary list of ‘non-essential jobs’ necessary in driving home the already undisputed, high importance of frontliners, at the expense of putting down others’ livelihoods? Probably not. I think this is where much of the frustration from artists comes. This brings us to the second layer to unpack.
“Not recognising the legitimacy of artists as a proper career only further detriments their source of income.”
One might argue that artists were not the only careers to be listed as ‘non-essential’, but there is a key difference. Most artists are freelancers and do not have a fixed monthly source of income. They earn through individual gigs and often have to fight hard to be adequately paid, given the ambiguity of valuing their artistic work. Not recognising the legitimacy of artists as a proper career only further detriments their source of income.
It is easy to overlook the intrinsic value that artists bring to us due to its largely intangible nature. But a closer look at even just our phone activity is enough to show how much art we consume every day. From Netflix to YouTube, even the minimalist interface on your phone that helps you navigate your way around seamlessly — artists play a big part in all these.
In Singapore, the Arts has always been seen as playing second fiddle to more “strategic” industries like the STEM fields. Understandably, success in these fields have been instrumental in propelling Singapore as a leader in pushing the scientific and technological frontier in Asia. In the arts sphere however, we may not be as highly ranked globally. One might hastily attribute this to a lack of talented individuals when comparing to the best of talents in the world, but I dare to venture a no.
“To say that Singapore is facing a deficit of talent would be undermining the successes of so many local artists, for Singapore is certainly not without its own.”
The relatively lackluster support of local talent in the Arts in Singapore, compared to other countries or areas of expertise like sports is apparent. I’ve always believed that the success of an artist relies not just on pure talent, but on support. Support from us locals is so important in helping these budding artists build the foundation of their audience base through home, bolster their popularity as they venture into newer markets, as well as provide valuable feedback on the creative process and outcome. To say that Singapore is facing a deficit of talent would be undermining the successes of so many local artists — both discovered and yet to be, for Singapore is certainly not without its own.
Just to name a few off the top of my head:
The colorful works of local mural artist duo, Ripple Roots (@rippleroots), were available for bidding in a Sotheby’s auction in December 2019. (For those who are unfamiliar, Sotheby’s is one the largest and oldest auction houses in the world. It is no doubt a great honour to be featured by them.)
Embroidery artist, Teresa Lim (@teeteeheehee), has also successfully caught international attention for the magic her fingers can weave.
Local musicians The Sam Willows, Gentle Bones, Inch Chua, Charlie Lim and Nathan Hartono have all become household names in Singapore. And of course, who could forget our very own Singaporean ACS boy, JJ Lin.
Even content-sharing platforms like Spotify and Instagram have been helping to elevate indie songwriters and illustrators, like R&B-funk trio brb. and Hafiiz Karim (@thenextmostfamousartist) amongst many others. Technology has indeed created more potential sources of revenue and publicity for growing artists, which can help to entice more into the industry.
Some final thoughts
We have certainly come a long way from seeing a career in the Arts as “throwing away our future”. But there still remains a long path forward. To completely unlearn the deep-rooted perceptions of the Arts as an unviable path would take years. But this change begins from supporting our local talents, the ones who have taken the leap to challenge the status quo. These are the ones who are the pioneers of a constantly evolving industry that sees increasing profitability and recognition, especially with the help of technology. Support from both us individuals and corporations alike will go a long way in letting their voices be heard.
On a more personal level, the arts industry has always been something close to my heart. As a concert pianist for most of my childhood till I was 18, I grew up in the arts industry and saw how much it has grown since then. The amount of opportunities, competitions and art showcases as avenues for growth have increased exponentially in just the past decade. Through my experiences, I have also learnt that I am more interested in the big picture, and strive to give back to the industry in that aspect in the future. Though some may say I have betrayed the artistic instincts in me by running off to London to study Economics for the sake of my left brain, I have always been so incredibly proud to see so many former peers experimenting with new performing techniques and continuing to thrive in the scene.
I like to think that being an artist is not any different from being an entrepreneur running your own business. You have to think of a unique product that sells, a marketing strategy that reaches far and a branding that establishes you for what you stand for. The difference is that not everyone is born with that extra creative streak in us. That creative streak is what brings us so much joy, relatability and respite when you come home exhausted after a long day. It may not help you ward off the coronavirus, but it makes life better, especially when you’re stuck at home under lockdown.
So yes, maybe artists are not essential for survival, but they sure are essential for living, even in a pandemic.
