IPOH: Local art practitioners should continue creating with discipline and remain engaged even after retirement to ensure the industry stays relevant, says Datuk Mohammad Nor Mohammad Khalid, better known as Datuk Lat.
The National Laureate said the true satisfaction of an artist lies in the continuous pursuit of creative work and that the desire to create should not cease with retirement.
"I hope art practitioners in any field do not isolate themselves but instead continue striving and creating.
"Although I have retired, I still draw and am currently working on a new comic. We must always have something to do, if not in the studio or office, then at home,” he said.
Lat was commenting on National Artistes Day, observed on March 22 to honour the contributions of local art figures in elevating the country’s creative industry.
He added that increased government attention to the creative industry has enabled the public to better appreciate and engage with artistic works.
"Even in the past, we appreciated artists, but now there is greater attention from the government, allowing the public to enjoy and understand local art more deeply,” he said.
On quality, he stressed the importance of maintaining local identity in artistic works to ensure lasting value, noting that works by icons such as the late Tan Sri P. Ramlee remain popular due to their strong sense of identity.
"Art forms such as Malay pop music have their own identity, which is why they endure. If we simply follow Western styles, our works will easily change and be forgotten.
"Art practitioners must continue creating and developing their own style, even if they are influenced by others in the early stages,” he said.
National Artistes Day is celebrated annually in conjunction with the birth anniversary of the late P. Ramlee and is typically marked by modest programmes that commemorate his contributions while bringing together members of the creative industry. – Bernama
