VIEWPOINT: As the saying goes, let a thousand flowers bloom

<p>Asia's performance at this year's Cannes Lions show was heartening </p><p>evidence that the region has progressed by leaps and bounds in terms of </p><p>creativity, despite the economic doldrums of the last couple of </p><p>years. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>The number of awards that agencies from this part of the world came home </p><p>with was almost double that of last year's take, but at the same time, </p><p>it was still a pitifully small number given the total entries submitted </p><p>by Asian shops (see story on page 6). </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>As BBDO Guerrero Ortega chairman David Guerrero pointed out, Asia's haul </p><p>was miniscule compared to that of Brazil's. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>Alright, there might be some justification in pointing to the </p><p>traditional - but never proven - in-fighting among the judging panel, </p><p>which is alleged to be behind results which often leave the industry </p><p>flabbergasted. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>But that cannot be the full explanation, surely. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>And it is just a tad too convenient and self-consolatory to be </p><p>acceptable to anyone. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>No self-respecting creative director should ever feel comfortable </p><p>excusing his or her lack of success by saying, "Oh well, we would have </p><p>won but the jury was biased". </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>After all, isn't a good ad a good ad regardless of partisanship? </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>In any case, it doesn't really matter. Asia improved its performance, </p><p>that's what counts. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>Now the focus should be on the future, and ways to grow and blossom in </p><p>terms of creativity. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>One thing we cannot do now is to shut ourselves off to outside influence </p><p>and inspiration. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>Markets such as Japan and Hong Kong have become increasingly </p><p>inward-looking and parochial in recent years, while others (Singapore </p><p>springs to mind) have always been far more open to foreign ideas - and </p><p>people. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>The point is that we can all learn something from anyone, even if it is </p><p>only the way not to do something. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>So let us make that our goal for the final months of this year: to open </p><p>our hearts and minds. </p><p><BR><BR> </p>