When a web community is set up, described by geographical region, what is the meaning behind it? After all, the web as we know has no borders. Welcome to hyper-reality. This is where identities get re-invented, challenged and defended, evolving constantly--as often as people will it.

So the question of "Why set up a web community for digital media defined by geographical region?" bounces back. Aren't we using the same pen tablets (be it whatever model of the Wacom range), more or less on the same software, more or less the 'same' computers? So shouldn't the issues we encounter be common everywhere on Earth now that we are all so connected? Therefore, shouldn't these issues be captured under FAQ or Tech Help or something? Why bother to 'regionalize' the communities?

Search... flicke... hmmm.

Not unless the issues are creative and cultural. Interestingly, despite our connectedness, most people join communities to seek encouragement and endorsement to what they do. In other words, communities are hardly as diversified as they could be. People with similar ideas and creative forms tend to congregate in digital media communities, pat each other on the back, and soon, the deviants head off somewhere else to seek solace to their wounded ego. (Ok. It is not that serious, but you get the picture.) What remains is a community of banal sameness with tons of copycats and wannabes. Come on!

There is absolutely nothing wrong with that. I totally enjoy some of them from time to time. The question we need to ask is, "IS that it? Is that ALL we can do with these fabulous (once super expensive) tools made available at consumer pricing? Is 'Creating more of the same' entertaining?" A much less asked question albeit a highly pertinent one of the 21st century is "How do doing these things help me grow as a human being and help me find my existence?"

As a community, how can we develop a sustaining culture that helps us grow out of this 'sameness' habitual? How can we celebrate deviations and encourage boldness in creative explorations, empowered by the myriad of digital tools in our hands?

Yebbadeba. It is easier said than done isn't it? Something interesting: In a survey done across the continents on the implementation of art education, the agenda behind it, and the activities tied to it, an intriguing trend surfaces. Among the developed nations, art education is generally seen as fundamental to a development of a person/child as a human being, an individual. The agenda is centered on self-discovery, exploration and expression of ideas, development of vision and visualization, issues of perception through play/fun in art.

Asian countries however reflect a much more utilitarian attitude towards art education, however. It is widely used as a means to inculcate (brainwash) in students particular values celebrated by the super egos - societal correctness, culture preservation, utilitarian and singular mindset towards serving the industries (as they say, "Art not for 'A'rt sake but for Business"). They also tend to be busier towards skills development, in hoping to develop ultimately a workforce to serve as modern 'slaves' in one of those digital media sweatshops.

As participants of this 'Asian' community, it is perhaps important that we ask ourselves if the value of art and doing art been reduced to a farce under the pretense of commerce and industry needs. Have we been robbed of our rights in doing art without contamination of ulterior motives? If so, how do we shape-reform from here? How do we use this community to privilege art as art for art sake striking meaning (once again) to ourselves, our existence once again?

I thank Wacom for this opportunity to pen some of my thoughts and share it. I asked a whole lot of questions with not much of answers. I guess you will have to provide those answers yourself. Hopefully your search is a visual one, share it, and in the process make this community something meaningful to yourself. Hopefully, it won't become another digital media photocopying site. You decide. You make the difference.