on my 20th birthday I stood on the corner of an alleyway on the Rue de
corner of an alleyway on the Rue de
corner of an alleyway on the Rue de commerce in Paris my all time favorite
commerce in Paris my all time favorite
commerce in Paris my all time favorite artists sheila hicks had accepted to
artists sheila hicks had accepted to
artists sheila hicks had accepted to meet running formal discussion of her
meet running formal discussion of her
meet running formal discussion of her work unreasonably intimidated nervous
work unreasonably intimidated nervous
work unreasonably intimidated nervous and filled with excitement I was
and filled with excitement I was
and filled with excitement I was speechless at how instead of working me
speechless at how instead of working me
speechless at how instead of working me directly to her studio she was taking me
directly to her studio she was taking me
directly to her studio she was taking me to her local bookstore the bookstore
to her local bookstore the bookstore
to her local bookstore the bookstore owner was keen on the artists work and
owner was keen on the artists work and
owner was keen on the artists work and she had positioned her book right by the
she had positioned her book right by the
she had positioned her book right by the window showcase the artist Sheila she
window showcase the artist Sheila she
window showcase the artist Sheila she was really reluctant to talk about
was really reluctant to talk about
was really reluctant to talk about herself and she insisted that I read
herself and she insisted that I read
herself and she insisted that I read this book if I wanted to know more about
this book if I wanted to know more about
this book if I wanted to know more about herself her life and her journey we sat
herself her life and her journey we sat
herself her life and her journey we sat in a boulangerie and with discussed and
in a boulangerie and with discussed and
in a boulangerie and with discussed and compared the travels she had been to
compared the travels she had been to
compared the travels she had been to cambodian weaving towns and so had I and
cambodian weaving towns and so had I and
cambodian weaving towns and so had I and she felt saddened for the exploitation
she felt saddened for the exploitation
she felt saddened for the exploitation of the textile industry in China so did
of the textile industry in China so did
of the textile industry in China so did I we talked about my upcoming trip to
I we talked about my upcoming trip to
I we talked about my upcoming trip to India and her own personal experience in
India and her own personal experience in
India and her own personal experience in that country and also previously in
that country and also previously in
that country and also previously in Latin America we visited several
Latin America we visited several
Latin America we visited several exhibitions and we slowly made our way
exhibitions and we slowly made our way
exhibitions and we slowly made our way to her studio which was located inside a
to her studio which was located inside a
to her studio which was located inside a mind-blowing alleyway that led to an
mind-blowing alleyway that led to an
mind-blowing alleyway that led to an inner courtyard where I couldn’t hold
inner courtyard where I couldn’t hold
inner courtyard where I couldn’t hold myself from taking this photograph as I
myself from taking this photograph as I
myself from taking this photograph as I realized I was standing right where her
realized I was standing right where her
realized I was standing right where her piece target had been photographed
piece target had been photographed
piece target had been photographed inside her studio Sheila stress the
inside her studio Sheila stress the
inside her studio Sheila stress the importance of sensing the artwork rather
importance of sensing the artwork rather
importance of sensing the artwork rather than questioning in and she set me free
than questioning in and she set me free
than questioning in and she set me free to understand the idea that art was a
to understand the idea that art was a
to understand the idea that art was a unity of sensations come to work while
unity of sensations come to work while
unity of sensations come to work while listening to her speak I began to sense
listening to her speak I began to sense
listening to her speak I began to sense a deeper understanding of not only her
a deeper understanding of not only her
a deeper understanding of not only her practice but of her inspirations and I
practice but of her inspirations and I
practice but of her inspirations and I began to see art as the channel to not
began to see art as the channel to not
began to see art as the channel to not only understand an artist but a person’s
only understand an artist but a person’s
only understand an artist but a person’s whole life journey as I translated this
whole life journey as I translated this
whole life journey as I translated this knowledge my own personal passion for
knowledge my own personal passion for
knowledge my own personal passion for materiality social relations and travel
materiality social relations and travel
materiality social relations and travel became worthy and relevant areas of
became worthy and relevant areas of
became worthy and relevant areas of Investigation her warm heartedness
Investigation her warm heartedness
Investigation her warm heartedness wisdom and her disinterested advice were
wisdom and her disinterested advice were
wisdom and her disinterested advice were the guiding light for me to embark on a
the guiding light for me to embark on a
the guiding light for me to embark on a personal trip understanding the meaning
personal trip understanding the meaning
personal trip understanding the meaning of my practice so before I go any
of my practice so before I go any
of my practice so before I go any further I would like to take a moment to
further I would like to take a moment to
further I would like to take a moment to appreciate the value of this encounter
appreciate the value of this encounter
appreciate the value of this encounter being an artist is something that comes
being an artist is something that comes
being an artist is something that comes deep from my heart but if I’m honest it
deep from my heart but if I’m honest it
deep from my heart but if I’m honest it is just a small part of who I am there
is just a small part of who I am there
is just a small part of who I am there are so many other areas of life that I
are so many other areas of life that I
are so many other areas of life that I enjoy that if I had to separate who I am
enjoy that if I had to separate who I am
enjoy that if I had to separate who I am and my practice my art would definitely
and my practice my art would definitely
and my practice my art would definitely feel empty this has made me feel very
feel empty this has made me feel very
feel empty this has made me feel very insecure at times like what I’m doing is
insecure at times like what I’m doing is
insecure at times like what I’m doing is not really hard or that I can never be
not really hard or that I can never be
not really hard or that I can never be able to focus at one thing at a time but
able to focus at one thing at a time but
able to focus at one thing at a time but what can I do if my ideas only spark at
what can I do if my ideas only spark at
what can I do if my ideas only spark at this personal unexpected and creative
this personal unexpected and creative
this personal unexpected and creative crossroads I don’t want to sound as
crossroads I don’t want to sound as
crossroads I don’t want to sound as someone who’s too in love with the idea
someone who’s too in love with the idea
someone who’s too in love with the idea of what they’re doing right now I am
of what they’re doing right now I am
of what they’re doing right now I am young and I’m aware that my ideas on
young and I’m aware that my ideas on
young and I’m aware that my ideas on life changed radically from year to year
life changed radically from year to year
life changed radically from year to year I thought I would like to talk in a way
I thought I would like to talk in a way
I thought I would like to talk in a way that I will be able to look at my young
that I will be able to look at my young
that I will be able to look at my young self in time and still feel moved like
self in time and still feel moved like
self in time and still feel moved like most of us here today I also feel lost
most of us here today I also feel lost
most of us here today I also feel lost when I visit an exhibition of
when I visit an exhibition of
when I visit an exhibition of contemporary art and even though I
contemporary art and even though I
contemporary art and even though I practice this crap daily it is really
practice this crap daily it is really
practice this crap daily it is really hard for me to understand what’s
hard for me to understand what’s
hard for me to understand what’s happening inside my colleagues minds
happening inside my colleagues minds
happening inside my colleagues minds when i visit shows with family or
when i visit shows with family or
when i visit shows with family or friends it is likely that we exit with a
friends it is likely that we exit with a
friends it is likely that we exit with a look in her face that suggests i had no
look in her face that suggests i had no
look in her face that suggests i had no idea what was going on in there as much
idea what was going on in there as much
idea what was going on in there as much as I try to or as much as I would like
as I try to or as much as I would like
as I try to or as much as I would like to I I cannot understand contemporary
to I I cannot understand contemporary
to I I cannot understand contemporary art it’s weird I cannot relate to it and
art it’s weird I cannot relate to it and
art it’s weird I cannot relate to it and I agree I wish art were more
I agree I wish art were more
I agree I wish art were more approachable less autonomous and they
approachable less autonomous and they
approachable less autonomous and they separate from its surrounding this is
separate from its surrounding this is
separate from its surrounding this is why I like to place so much importance
why I like to place so much importance
why I like to place so much importance in the story behind things in the
in the story behind things in the
in the story behind things in the experience in the people involved in
experience in the people involved in
experience in the people involved in turn
turn
turn of making and in what we actually go
of making and in what we actually go
of making and in what we actually go through as human beings while creating
through as human beings while creating
through as human beings while creating our masterpiece how can we expect
our masterpiece how can we expect
our masterpiece how can we expect someone inside the gallery to fully
someone inside the gallery to fully
someone inside the gallery to fully relate to a work of art when they have
relate to a work of art when they have
relate to a work of art when they have no idea of what was going on in the
no idea of what was going on in the
no idea of what was going on in the artist life and in history running at
artist life and in history running at
artist life and in history running at that time so I guess my question today
that time so I guess my question today
that time so I guess my question today is how can art become a more humane
is how can art become a more humane
is how can art become a more humane experience for people i could start my
experience for people i could start my
experience for people i could start my journey today by talking about spain
journey today by talking about spain
journey today by talking about spain where i come from or talking about the
where i come from or talking about the
where i come from or talking about the UK where i first moved to when i left
UK where i first moved to when i left
UK where i first moved to when i left home but i believe my true artistic self
home but i believe my true artistic self
home but i believe my true artistic self began to expand and develop when i move
began to expand and develop when i move
began to expand and develop when i move to beijing in such a consumer society as
to beijing in such a consumer society as
to beijing in such a consumer society as china buyers are not only interested in
china buyers are not only interested in
china buyers are not only interested in obtaining new products but also in
obtaining new products but also in
obtaining new products but also in discarding the old technological
discarding the old technological
discarding the old technological developments have made quantity and
developments have made quantity and
developments have made quantity and quality become serious problems and it
quality become serious problems and it
quality become serious problems and it is therefore why my practice became an
is therefore why my practice became an
is therefore why my practice became an ongoing performance searching and
ongoing performance searching and
ongoing performance searching and collecting every day discarded materials
collecting every day discarded materials
collecting every day discarded materials I question what was bound to happen when
I question what was bound to happen when
I question what was bound to happen when a foreigner is exposed to an unknown
a foreigner is exposed to an unknown
a foreigner is exposed to an unknown object and how he or she would adopt it
object and how he or she would adopt it
object and how he or she would adopt it in contrast to someone who uses it daily
in contrast to someone who uses it daily
in contrast to someone who uses it daily for example I used to brew my floor
for example I used to brew my floor
for example I used to brew my floor using these brooms made of dried flowers
using these brooms made of dried flowers
using these brooms made of dried flowers and dried corn and to be honest they
and dried corn and to be honest they
and dried corn and to be honest they didn’t really do a very good job so i
didn’t really do a very good job so i
didn’t really do a very good job so i decided to transcend them into art a
decided to transcend them into art a
decided to transcend them into art a similar thing happened with this
similar thing happened with this
similar thing happened with this installation which is made of no more
installation which is made of no more
installation which is made of no more than putting mobs together these mobs
than putting mobs together these mobs
than putting mobs together these mobs are made of beautiful strips of colorful
are made of beautiful strips of colorful
are made of beautiful strips of colorful clothes but again they don’t really
clothes but again they don’t really
clothes but again they don’t really clean people’s floor so i decided to
clean people’s floor so i decided to
clean people’s floor so i decided to transcend them into art again doing this
transcend them into art again doing this
transcend them into art again doing this was allowing me to look through
was allowing me to look through
was allowing me to look through materials as a way to understand my own
materials as a way to understand my own
materials as a way to understand my own personal experience of being in china
personal experience of being in china
personal experience of being in china and while having to look for these
and while having to look for these
and while having to look for these supplies i was having to go to the
supplies i was having to go to the
supplies i was having to go to the city’s most uninviting material
city’s most uninviting material
city’s most uninviting material our kids where I was both breathtaking
our kids where I was both breathtaking
our kids where I was both breathtaking at the variety of stuff but also furious
at the variety of stuff but also furious
at the variety of stuff but also furious at its unwelcoming vendors I had to
at its unwelcoming vendors I had to
at its unwelcoming vendors I had to carry my supplies in the back of a
carry my supplies in the back of a
carry my supplies in the back of a motorcycle that was driving on the
motorcycle that was driving on the
motorcycle that was driving on the opposite direction of traffic and of
opposite direction of traffic and of
opposite direction of traffic and of course on the way home we had to stop to
course on the way home we had to stop to
course on the way home we had to stop to say hi to the drivers cousin who had a
say hi to the drivers cousin who had a
say hi to the drivers cousin who had a shop where I eventually met another guy
shop where I eventually met another guy
shop where I eventually met another guy who’d wanted to take me to the city’s
who’d wanted to take me to the city’s
who’d wanted to take me to the city’s cheapest bamboo store when I was there I
cheapest bamboo store when I was there I
cheapest bamboo store when I was there I met the shopkeeper and his entire family
met the shopkeeper and his entire family
met the shopkeeper and his entire family who happened to live at the back of the
who happened to live at the back of the
who happened to live at the back of the shop we spend the evening drinking tea
shop we spend the evening drinking tea
shop we spend the evening drinking tea and hanging out in their backyard and I
and hanging out in their backyard and I
and hanging out in their backyard and I got convinced to buy some of their
got convinced to buy some of their
got convinced to buy some of their bamboo I was also given some leftover
bamboo I was also given some leftover
bamboo I was also given some leftover Hey and that story translated it to this
Hey and that story translated it to this
Hey and that story translated it to this installation this is what I mean how can
installation this is what I mean how can
installation this is what I mean how can we expect anyone else to know and we
we expect anyone else to know and we
we expect anyone else to know and we forget that these are precisely the
forget that these are precisely the
forget that these are precisely the stories that move people and that really
stories that move people and that really
stories that move people and that really makes art relatable when I came back to
makes art relatable when I came back to
makes art relatable when I came back to the UK I started collaborating with a
the UK I started collaborating with a
the UK I started collaborating with a hairdressing salon a place I totally
hairdressing salon a place I totally
hairdressing salon a place I totally didn’t belong to we collected customer
didn’t belong to we collected customer
didn’t belong to we collected customer hair for over a month and we wrote down
hair for over a month and we wrote down
hair for over a month and we wrote down the customers names and their
the customers names and their
the customers names and their nationality there wasn’t much reasoning
nationality there wasn’t much reasoning
nationality there wasn’t much reasoning for me doing this it was just a new way
for me doing this it was just a new way
for me doing this it was just a new way of feeling inspired by doing things that
of feeling inspired by doing things that
of feeling inspired by doing things that I wouldn’t usually do however doing this
I wouldn’t usually do however doing this
I wouldn’t usually do however doing this made me curious of what would happen if
made me curious of what would happen if
made me curious of what would happen if I start stitching hair onto fabrics
I start stitching hair onto fabrics
I start stitching hair onto fabrics which made me interested in how fabrics
which made me interested in how fabrics
which made me interested in how fabrics actually made which eventually open up
actually made which eventually open up
actually made which eventually open up the doors for me to get funded to travel
the doors for me to get funded to travel
the doors for me to get funded to travel to India I not only wanted to learn
to India I not only wanted to learn
to India I not only wanted to learn about the weaving process itself I
about the weaving process itself I
about the weaving process itself I wanted to learn weaving in terms of the
wanted to learn weaving in terms of the
wanted to learn weaving in terms of the experience of the person who weaves that
experience of the person who weaves that
experience of the person who weaves that fabric so only in a weaving workshop in
fabric so only in a weaving workshop in
fabric so only in a weaving workshop in a materials country of origin would I
a materials country of origin would I
a materials country of origin would I really be able to understand the root of
really be able to understand the root of
really be able to understand the root of textiles
textiles
textiles while being in India I spent almost two
while being in India I spent almost two
while being in India I spent almost two months living with local weavers in the
months living with local weavers in the
months living with local weavers in the jungle and it was once again through
jungle and it was once again through
jungle and it was once again through this deep self in motion that I began to
this deep self in motion that I began to
this deep self in motion that I began to focus on the intensity and on a
focus on the intensity and on a
focus on the intensity and on a transformative effect of the experience
transformative effect of the experience
transformative effect of the experience rather than on the art object itself I
rather than on the art object itself I
rather than on the art object itself I also realized how much possession I
also realized how much possession I
also realized how much possession I claimed over my work and also how hard
claimed over my work and also how hard
claimed over my work and also how hard it was for local people to relate to
it was for local people to relate to
it was for local people to relate to what i was doing these people couldn’t
what i was doing these people couldn’t
what i was doing these people couldn’t care less if their name remained unknown
care less if their name remained unknown
care less if their name remained unknown and i must say that without their help
and i must say that without their help
and i must say that without their help my work would have failed terribly after
my work would have failed terribly after
my work would have failed terribly after weeks of living there I really became
weeks of living there I really became
weeks of living there I really became part of this family and so when I look
part of this family and so when I look
part of this family and so when I look at my work I not only see a well-crafted
at my work I not only see a well-crafted
at my work I not only see a well-crafted and beautiful tapestry I see a
and beautiful tapestry I see a
and beautiful tapestry I see a vulnerable object with human qualities
vulnerable object with human qualities
vulnerable object with human qualities and stories to share it has my
and stories to share it has my
and stories to share it has my accomplishments my struggles and also
accomplishments my struggles and also
accomplishments my struggles and also every moment that I shared with this
every moment that I shared with this
every moment that I shared with this community it’s embedded on it and so it
community it’s embedded on it and so it
community it’s embedded on it and so it marks a key moment in my life and
marks a key moment in my life and
marks a key moment in my life and hopefully also in theirs when I came
hopefully also in theirs when I came
hopefully also in theirs when I came back to London I felt very uninspired by
back to London I felt very uninspired by
back to London I felt very uninspired by the art world I couldn’t deal with the
the art world I couldn’t deal with the
the art world I couldn’t deal with the idea of living in a comfortable city
idea of living in a comfortable city
idea of living in a comfortable city making art in a comfortable studio being
making art in a comfortable studio being
making art in a comfortable studio being surrounded by students who lived
surrounded by students who lived
surrounded by students who lived comfortable lives it felt really
comfortable lives it felt really
comfortable lives it felt really dishonest and also listening to people
dishonest and also listening to people
dishonest and also listening to people speak about my work was deeply painful
speak about my work was deeply painful
speak about my work was deeply painful they thought this tapestry had been made
they thought this tapestry had been made
they thought this tapestry had been made in london in a conventional art studio
in london in a conventional art studio
in london in a conventional art studio by someone who happened to enjoy weaving
by someone who happened to enjoy weaving
by someone who happened to enjoy weaving and fiber art they had no idea of what I
and fiber art they had no idea of what I
and fiber art they had no idea of what I had gone through in order to make this
had gone through in order to make this
had gone through in order to make this and so I started to feel a really big
and so I started to feel a really big
and so I started to feel a really big distance between my art and my life it
distance between my art and my life it
distance between my art and my life it is then when I realized that most of us
is then when I realized that most of us
is then when I realized that most of us today we like to separate who we are on
today we like to separate who we are on
today we like to separate who we are on a personal level
a personal level
a personal level and who we are on our field and I
and who we are on our field and I
and who we are on our field and I realized this really doesn’t work for me
realized this really doesn’t work for me
realized this really doesn’t work for me if I want to be creative I first of all
if I want to be creative I first of all
if I want to be creative I first of all have to be inspired by the way I live
have to be inspired by the way I live
have to be inspired by the way I live and by what kind of impact I want to
and by what kind of impact I want to
and by what kind of impact I want to have on the world I also realized that
have on the world I also realized that
have on the world I also realized that the way I was making was really
the way I was making was really
the way I was making was really incompatible with this obsession of
incompatible with this obsession of
incompatible with this obsession of constant production of objects and so I
constant production of objects and so I
constant production of objects and so I became more interested in the production
became more interested in the production
became more interested in the production of experiences it all started when I
of experiences it all started when I
of experiences it all started when I moved into this house boats with a crazy
moved into this house boats with a crazy
moved into this house boats with a crazy Cuban chef that I had never met before
Cuban chef that I had never met before
Cuban chef that I had never met before from that moment I lost every sense of
from that moment I lost every sense of
from that moment I lost every sense of self we went from him sleeping in the
self we went from him sleeping in the
self we went from him sleeping in the sofa I was sleeping on the bed we were
sofa I was sleeping on the bed we were
sofa I was sleeping on the bed we were sharing a wardrobe we were sharing
sharing a wardrobe we were sharing
sharing a wardrobe we were sharing clothes I could hear him snore every
clothes I could hear him snore every
clothes I could hear him snore every night he could hear my farts if I got it
night he could hear my farts if I got it
night he could hear my farts if I got it and really I started to question where
and really I started to question where
and really I started to question where is home and it became my motto for the
is home and it became my motto for the
is home and it became my motto for the past year and since then I’ve lived in
past year and since then I’ve lived in
past year and since then I’ve lived in over 35 different habitats in april i
over 35 different habitats in april i
over 35 different habitats in april i went to Joshua Tree to live in the
went to Joshua Tree to live in the
went to Joshua Tree to live in the desert in these wagon stations that be
desert in these wagon stations that be
desert in these wagon stations that be artists andreas detail has set up
artists andreas detail has set up
artists andreas detail has set up together with 12 other writers thinkers
together with 12 other writers thinkers
together with 12 other writers thinkers musicians artists we question how
musicians artists we question how
musicians artists we question how everyday actions could be transformed
everyday actions could be transformed
everyday actions could be transformed into art together we explored every
into art together we explored every
into art together we explored every aspect of how we lived from how he slept
aspect of how we lived from how he slept
aspect of how we lived from how he slept how we ate how we socialize with each
how we ate how we socialize with each
how we ate how we socialize with each other and for the first time in my life
other and for the first time in my life
other and for the first time in my life everything was art as you can imagine
everything was art as you can imagine
everything was art as you can imagine this trip really changed me and when I
this trip really changed me and when I
this trip really changed me and when I was so excited than on my return i
was so excited than on my return i
was so excited than on my return i convince my classmate to transform this
convince my classmate to transform this
convince my classmate to transform this ikea bandwidth into our home for the
ikea bandwidth into our home for the
ikea bandwidth into our home for the next two months this was in kingston by
next two months this was in kingston by
next two months this was in kingston by the way we slept there for almost two
the way we slept there for almost two
the way we slept there for almost two months every day we cooked for others
months every day we cooked for others
months every day we cooked for others and we received so many donations so for
and we received so many donations so for
and we received so many donations so for the first time in my life the question
the first time in my life the question
the first time in my life the question of the
of the
of the this was art with a capital A or not
this was art with a capital A or not
this was art with a capital A or not stopped worrying me because during this
stopped worrying me because during this
stopped worrying me because during this time I met more people than in my entire
time I met more people than in my entire
time I met more people than in my entire three years of VA and I witness how
three years of VA and I witness how
three years of VA and I witness how powerful and positive things can be when
powerful and positive things can be when
powerful and positive things can be when we work together as people these
we work together as people these
we work together as people these lifestyles really really changed me and
lifestyles really really changed me and
lifestyles really really changed me and they’ve had a really big impact in my
they’ve had a really big impact in my
they’ve had a really big impact in my life and who I am today and who I want
life and who I am today and who I want
life and who I am today and who I want to be and these are the donations you
to be and these are the donations you
to be and these are the donations you are receiving for the market people in
are receiving for the market people in
are receiving for the market people in Kingston and also all the people that we
Kingston and also all the people that we
Kingston and also all the people that we were meeting during the time and then
were meeting during the time and then
were meeting during the time and then when we were kicked out and we donated
when we were kicked out and we donated
when we were kicked out and we donated the bed to a little boy in Brighton
the bed to a little boy in Brighton
the bed to a little boy in Brighton called George and I took off again this
called George and I took off again this
called George and I took off again this time I went to teach art to tamil
time I went to teach art to tamil
time I went to teach art to tamil refugees in India after we finish the
refugees in India after we finish the
refugees in India after we finish the project I went to live in the world’s
project I went to live in the world’s
project I went to live in the world’s largest experimental city which I
largest experimental city which I
largest experimental city which I recommend everyone to go I wish I had
recommend everyone to go I wish I had
recommend everyone to go I wish I had more time to talk about all of these
more time to talk about all of these
more time to talk about all of these experiences as well but what I’m really
experiences as well but what I’m really
experiences as well but what I’m really trying to get across today is how
trying to get across today is how
trying to get across today is how important it is to fight for an art that
important it is to fight for an art that
important it is to fight for an art that is humane down-to-earth an approachable
is humane down-to-earth an approachable
is humane down-to-earth an approachable our creative drive should be the highest
our creative drive should be the highest
our creative drive should be the highest medium for personal motivation
medium for personal motivation
medium for personal motivation self-discovery and change in the world
self-discovery and change in the world
self-discovery and change in the world it should make us listen clear open our
it should make us listen clear open our
it should make us listen clear open our eyes expand our minds and push our
eyes expand our minds and push our
eyes expand our minds and push our hearts to love in a different way only
hearts to love in a different way only
hearts to love in a different way only then will we be able to sit in a gallery
then will we be able to sit in a gallery
then will we be able to sit in a gallery of Contemporary Art and still feel moved
of Contemporary Art and still feel moved
of Contemporary Art and still feel moved thank you
you
you [Applause]
”
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