Dear art sector

How shall we relate to this new Flemish government? From the deep tunnels under the arts and the society, artist Enkidu Khaled sings a dead song: ‘Don't see art as a tree but like a big forest.’

Lees hier de Nederlandse versie

That day I could not find any more reasons to continue. The day when the terrorist attack happened in Brussels is the day I started being addicted to having death wishes for myself. Even for a teenage runaway from the civil war which I am, this was the worst period of my life. As a teenager I was exposed to all sort of types of violence, but I was now experiencing terror in a yet different way.

I was shocked like everybody else, but when I went out to the street, I realised that I’m actually not like everyone else. Because of the simple fact that somehow I share general similarity with the attacker. We shared the same skin colour and age. I felt the scared careful eyes on the streets chasing me, making sure they don’t become the next victims of this absurd violence coming to their daily life. My body was filled with negative energy. I was sweating so fast and moving slow.... blackout.

I believe art is the temporary vaccine to the war violence machine.

Growing up in the Middle East where images of death and destruction are promoted as a natural environment, we were encouraged to accept violence as a necessary state. Fighters are presented as heroes and should be role models for up-springs to become miserable killers. And even in that context I saw a lot of human rejection to that horrible war machine.

But thinking of Brussels, there are very different images and values spread to the popular culture. Here, one can find a cultural centre in any other neighbourhood providing art and culture to its inhabitants. I believe art is the temporary vaccine to the war violence machine: a machine working by the fundamental rule to close all channels of expression in a single human being until the inside pressure explodes. And here is where art gives access to explore so many different voices and expressions, which we call diversity!

Diversity

When I look at how the cultural system operates in Belgium, I sometimes doubt about the impact art has on the life of the local communities. Although a small percentage of the subsidy for culture was dedicated to support diversity, the implementation of the program seemed rather to stress out the restrictions of selection then opportunities of diversity.

Meanwhile this selective system cutbacks some communities to the cultural periphery which created tensions instead of enhancing dialogue in finding and negotiating common values. And now the government wants to even cut that diversity support, in order to focus on what is understood as “Flemish identity”.

Diversity seems to be part of the nature of Flemish people: more then half of them speak at least three languages.

Let us think about the future and try to develop a vision for the generation that will be born today. In what kind of environment will they grow up? And how art can influence that environment? What options can we create? I strongly believe ignoring the diversity is not a way for this generation.

I can only wish for them never to experience inequality for no other reason except the colour of their skin or their background, never to be kept aside and witness a slow death of their talents.

Here I would like to address the art sector in Belgium and ask you to assist the government in formulating a “Flemish identity” agenda which reflects the reality of our communities. Diversity seems to be part of the nature of Flemish people: more then half of them speak at least three languages, which makes a person able to see reality from different angles, to calculate and to be critical.

Such an educated mind is not an easy victim of manipulation. Just switch off your phone and let us have a long walk through Brussels. How long can we ignore our surroundings?

It is our immediate responsibility to provoke the awareness of diversity.

It is common for governments to think in a short period of time, not further than the next election. The art field however, needs to operate on much longer terms. Among other things which art can do, it can transform a complex conflict into a dialogue. What dialogue do you want to have without diversity?

It is our immediate responsibility to provoke the awareness of diversity. We can choose to take responsibility and operate on the surrounding reality and not building a parallel one. We can start to see diversity not as a problem but as part of the solution.

Tunnel network

I wonder sometimes in Belgium if we are really inside the system or if we walk beside it: in a parallel dimension where we got enough to survive – and surviving is supposed to be temporary, not to become your life style. And there I find myself in a complicated tunnel network. I don’t know where it starts or where it ends. Maybe a Flemish S.T.A.L.K.E.R, a local guide, can help find the way to the other side. And even then you still might lose your way, but at least we keep trying.

I’m not trying to be dramatic here, there’s a lot of fun in playing the tunnels game. The rules are very simple:

You meet stalker, as he asks: “Are you ready?”

“Yes I am.”

Like gravity art is everywhere, but we don’t always notice it.

“We will go as fast as possible through this dark tunnel and the only little light you can see is the reflection on my white skin. You need to stay close, do don’t turn to the left or right and definitely you need to keep your speed, otherwise you will get lost in the dark. But don’t worry, you will always find the bottom back.”

And because I never learned to follow anybody except myself, I never made it. I always got lost. I played the game so many times that it became part of my comfort zone.

Gravity

Gravity is a natural phenomenon by which all things with mass are brought towards (or gravitate towards) one another, including planets, stars and galaxies. It seemed there’s no other way to understand art except if you see it through the definition of gravity. Art is a natural phenomenon by which things are brought towards (or gravitate towards) one another, including objects, people, design and structure.

When someone has spent enough time in the tunnels, it appears in their attitude.

To see art as gravity gives me more freedom and understanding of art from the beginning until now. It also gives me understanding of why we as people think art is not important anymore. When an apple falls from the tree, we don't think of gravity. We only focus on the apple.

The same goes for art. Gravity is a force that pulls the universe together. Like gravity art is everywhere, but we don’t always notice it. For me as an artist I believe that without art society will fall apart. Like in trying to understand the universe through trying to understand its gravity, we need to understand society by trying to see what pulls it together.

Dirty roots

The most beautiful powerful tree in the forest still needs its dirty roots, and the roots need the leaves to reach the sunlight. Therefore they need to work with full cooperation of exchanging information, food, chemicals. They become one body in order to survive. What if art is similar to a tree? A tree separated from its roots, how long will it take before it gets dry? How long will it take until it becomes a silent piece of furniture? But the roots always find their way back to the sunlight.

Back to the tunnel.

Make art capable to capture the moment. Make art to be the witness in all time.

When someone has spent enough time in the tunnels, it appears in their attitude. Exactly like now I am completely lost, it’s not clear what and to whom I’m writing? It feels like an old empty dead song. A dead song for social equality. Or it’s a big shout from the bottom that has no hope of reaching anywhere. But I still remember before I got lost that I had one thing I would like to sing about:

Make art.

It’s your responsibility.

Be free and not a follower.

Make art like gravity, to gravitate communities, individuals, structures or objects towards one another.

Make art that can understand the past.

Make art. Reflect the reality and bring harmony to the future. Make art... enjoy art... fuck art.

Make art capable to capture the moment. Make art to be the witness in all time. Make art and call it the Flemish art.

Make art operate on longer terms: independent art, national art, international art. Make art full of colors.

Make tunnels art.

Make art to be a vaccine to the violence machine. Make art to bring awareness. Enjoy art... fuck art.

Make art transform a conflict into a dialogue. Make transparent art. Make educational art, experimental art, classic art.

Don't see art as a tree but like a big forest. Make art to provide oxygen. Make art and call it the Flemish art.

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