Octagon Arts Center

Most forms of Asian arts are deeply- rooted in eastern philosophy and values. Images of community, nature, family, worship and praise are found in all forms- paintings, sculptures, literature and calligraphy. Most of these forms symbolize distinct and truly Asian values such as preference for social harmony, respect for the collective well-being of the community and loyalty to family.

However, even though the Asian arts scene is colorful and vivid, not unlike its people and culture, the field of arts is still besotted with different concerns and issues. One issue would be the never- ending fund-raising troubles for several museums and galleries across the continent. For poverty- stricken and most often, third-world Asian countries, funding for the arts would be not be given as much thought as let’s say, funding for education or economy. Therefore, citizens would not give time or even the slightest attention to visit museums and galleries, much to the dismay of the curators and art followers. The value of arts is diminishing in countries such as Philippines and Cambodia where food in the table is far more important than buying sculptures or paintings. Others can even define arts as a luxury or an unwanted commodity. A well- known curator from the Philippines who manages a privately- owned museum, complained that locally, art tends to be a copy of western influences. Most Filipinos are not aware of long and hard-earned traditions that were passed from the ancestors down to the current generation. They chose not to be involved since some of them would rather use their money for something more important- things that would satisfy their physiological needs. Art masters and teachers often see Philippines as a colony of Spain, America and Japan and have “overarching history and development”. Because of these, museums in the Philippines are downgraded, being subjected to commercial eradication and possesses confused identity.