Should It Be Installed?
2008-07-31

Should It Be Installed?

Reportedly, a two-meter-high portrait sculpture of Yun Ma may be set up permanently in the Central Business District of Hangzhou. However, Alibaba has claimed recently that it is just a young enterprise and would not accept such a great honor. So Alibaba and Yun Ma politely refused the invitation of Qianjiang Downtown Sculpture Exhibition Organizing Committee and thanked for their kindness.

Alibaba's attitude towards this matter is very clear and decisive. While some people speak highly of Yun Ma, a few ones think this is another speculation in such a weird world.

Those who approve of exhibiting the sculpture mostly are young people. They think Ma is a good example of struggling for one's better life and future and has a positive guiding force in society. So why not let an excellent entrepreneur become a card of a city?

But someone think this is not conducive to guide social value of personal struggle; it can even play a negative role. Installing his portrait sculpture and deifying Ma, the public will lose their judgments towards Ma. Even it may distort the image of Ma. And it is more likely to increase one-sided value of wealth among the young people as a result of the wrong way of promoting the economic giants such as Yun Ma.

In addition to this comment, they explained that this is not jealous of other people's wealth, because no one will have any prejudice against Ma's success. They are just trying to note that as a form of art, sculpture also needs a limit and should not be so brazen at such an extent. The statements that it can guide society by the heroic figures are just high-sounding excuses and reasons. Its harm to our social values is immeasurable.

Another opinion is from the perspective of art. Now the arts community is, of course, declining because of the impact of materialism in our modern society. Confusedly, commercial art has long been a strong hand to win over. Pure art has to join the business. Art has no character, no quality any more, only to ingratiate himself with commercial services. The exhibition of this sculpture is entirely a vivid reaction and interpretation of this situation.

Maybe both sides are right. Why not just take it easy and sit down to consider further? Does this debate have any significance? In a mature society, we can not underestimate the public standards of judgment about the right and wrong. They know exactly who the heroes are and who are not. It is not simply defined by a sculpture. What we really care about is whether Alibaba can maintain its fast development. After all, economic model of excessive reliance on heroes or idols is not normal and it is difficult for long-term development. Only by maintaining a modest and introspective personality, enterprises can develop well. At this point of view, Ma's attitude towards this matter is admirable; and we can see the hope of a young enterprise.