Yoshi’s Perception of Sport and Art

On this great sport community site, some Almanackers have written interesting articles debating about sport and art on recent days. I enjoy reading these articles and it is good to see other people’s views of the topic from different angles.

Both sport players and artists have good talents and are doing brilliant works. I admire these talented people.

Sport or art. Until I read a good article written by E.regnans published on 17 November, I had thought that I was not either a sport or art person because I was not good at painting or playing music or playing a team sport. But the article changed my view and I think I can be an art person because I have talents in writing. And as I am good at riding a bike and play tennis quite well, so I may be also a sport person.

Just a bit outside the topic, but I cannot distinct myself between art and science as university subjects. We Japanese people are required to pass hard and tough exams to enrol  into a university course and have to have good marks in all subjects to go to a good state university. My marks between subjects had big gaps, so I had to choose electrical and electronic engineering at university. However throughout my past career, years after graduation, I found that I had been on the wrong pass.

But I have good mathematic skills and believe that my analysing skills are good. On the other hand, I have talents in writing. My conclusion of art and science about myself, again I can be in the middle (I have adopted parts of art and others from science).

Tourism is one of my interesting fields to work and in October, I completed an online course of diploma in tourism studies provided by an Irish organisation called ALISON (please note that it is not a female name!). Initiatively I have been researching and investigating tourist attractions here in Sapporo, Japan for just over a month. One of my destinations was an art museum located just a few kilometres west from Sapporo City Centre. Last Saturday, I visited the museum to see an Autumn art exhibition.

Exhibitions were paintings drawn by some Japanese artists as well as glass crafts and works were done in the 20th Century. I was impressed with a painting in a sheet of 29-metre long drawing scenery representing all seasons in Hokkaido, northern Japan. The artist has spent years to complete. It is brilliant.

However after having left the exhibition room, I realised that reading details of art works and artists places alongside art works for long was tired and grabbed a lot of energy. Even I spent only about an hour seeing these beautiful stuffs.

Then an idea of writing an article about seeing art works and watching sport games popped up. It is an evidence that I am always thinking about writing for the Footy Almanac without awareness.

Opposed to seeing art works, I have to move my head and eyes to see a sport game if I go to a stadium. If I choose to watch on telly, I just need to stare the screen. In any method of watching a sport, I have to keep up with ongoing situations. In other words, I cannot take survey to see players in a fixed area. It is a difference between steady objects (art) and moving players and balls (sports).

Player’s profiles and match statics can be on show on big screens at a stadium or on a TV screen, but not too long to make me getting tired from catching up with reading all.

And an excitement of a sport game does not give me any moment to feel such tiredness. Also as I am not likely to hesitate to express my excitement and emotion, I do not feel struggling with something. Opposite to sport, we may be able to speak at an art museum or gallery, but only quietly.

Both art and sport tell audience some things by observing. But for me, watching a sport game is more interesting and suitable based on my characters.

Some people are good at art while others have good sporting skills. Also some people have good skills and talents in both fields.

Western Bulldogs defender Robert Murphy not only plays good footy but also writes inspiring columns weekly for The Age during the AFL seasons as well as appears on AFL 360 on Foxtel. Murphy describes arts of footy from his old days at the junior level in the country side and the AFL level.

Recent retired St Kilda footballer Lenny Hayes published a book entitled Lenny with All My Heart in October. Sadly I have not read the book yet, but am sure he is a good author.

Tim Watson played for Essendon between 1977 and 1991, 1993 and 1994, and coached St Kilda in 2000. Watson also has been getting involved in media works including currently presenting sports on 7 News evening Bulletin in Melbourne.

Even I have declared in the article that I am more likely to be a sport person as observing, I also like reading AFL articles and columns. And The Game, A Collection of the Best AFL Stories is a great art stuff with inspiring AFL related stories.

About Yoshihiro Imagawa

Love, passion and pride are seen on the footy that is the biggest part of my life. 1. St Kilda Club member: I am a passionate and crazy Sainter. Just hope we will win the second flag soon, especially after Dogs and Tigers having ended long premiership draughts. 2. The Osaka Dingoes Player and Public Relations Officer: Player number 44 that I chose to honour Stephen Milne with my wish being like a small forward like him. Lenny Hayes' hardworking attitudes are adopted on my trainings and practices. Nick Riewoldt's great plays are in my player audiobook too. 3. Writing: Here on the Almanac and also on the World Footy News. My skills utilise on great footy websites.

Comments

  1. Great to read your thoughts, Yoshi. Your point regarding the passivity of both watching sport on TV and perusing art in a gallery is, I think, so true. I’m not good at sitting down to watch television at the best of times and would much rather be in my studio painting and creating my own ‘shows’. I too find reading info plaques besides art works, or installations as they are now called, exhausting. (In fact I often opt for the children’s version as it has far less artistic jargon and is concise).
    When it comes to watching sport nothing beats being there and being immersed in the experience and atmosphere….and the next best thing, in footy anyway, is listening on radio where your imagination has a place also,.
    There is a lot of art in football. And I think much in similarity with dance, even ballet!! even though public perception would place them at polar opposites.
    Great topic.

  2. Hi Kate,

    Thanks for reading my article and comment on it. It is very interesting to read other point of views on the subject. I understand your feelings preferring creating your own ‘shows’ rather than watching television. Similar situations apply to tennis – I much prefer playing the sport rather than watching tennis competitions on TV. But I haven’t played tennis for seven years, very sadly. I won’t get motivated playing tennis here, so it’s another excuse for me to move to Melbourne!

    It’s great to see your point of view that dance including ballet creates art. You know, ballet can be a theatre play. Probably I have to watch such a theatre play in Melbourne too!

    I wish you all the best for everything, including art works.

    Once again, thanks for your comment!

    Yoshi

  3. Cheryl Critchley says

    You make some interesting points Yoshi. In Australia people are usually expected to fit into a box, either being sporty, arty, good at English or good at maths/science. They are not usually expected to be good/interested in both. It’s great when people have a wide range of interests and talents. Just because you like football it doesn’t mean you can’t love art or opera :-)

  4. Hi Cherly,

    Thanks for your comment. But to be honest, we Japanese are expected to fit into a box too. I must admit that I was not performing well at a railway signal electrician job and I wonder if I am less likely to be an expert in any field or not.. It took so long to unleash my talents and indeed I am a late blossoming person. I hope I can find a paid job where my talents and skills contribute to the employer well and it’s for Melbourne. What I need is looking towards the future!

    Have a good weekend :-)

    Yoshi

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