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

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

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