Do What You Want, Not What You’re Told – A Lesson from Graffiti | Jason Dembski | TEDxCityUHongKong

thank you so this was me in 1987 I was a

thank you so this was me in 1987 I was a shy very quiet Midwestern Ohio boy and I

shy very quiet Midwestern Ohio boy and I

shy very quiet Midwestern Ohio boy and I was completely the opposite of non

was completely the opposite of non

was completely the opposite of non conformist I did what I was told and I

conformist I did what I was told and I

conformist I did what I was told and I believed everything I was told and I

believed everything I was told and I

believed everything I was told and I basically continued that way maybe not I

basically continued that way maybe not I

basically continued that way maybe not I think it’s a product of my my upbringing

think it’s a product of my my upbringing

think it’s a product of my my upbringing I had I had a great family very

I had I had a great family very

I had I had a great family very supportive but also maybe a bit

supportive but also maybe a bit

supportive but also maybe a bit protective so it wasn’t until two

protective so it wasn’t until two

protective so it wasn’t until two thousand and that I went to college and

thousand and that I went to college and

thousand and that I went to college and I went to Ohio State University to study

I went to Ohio State University to study

I went to Ohio State University to study architecture and following that I went

architecture and following that I went

architecture and following that I went to the University of Michigan to also

to the University of Michigan to also

to the University of Michigan to also study architecture and this this kind of

study architecture and this this kind of

study architecture and this this kind of eight years of my life where I was away

eight years of my life where I was away

eight years of my life where I was away from home I was being I was much more

from home I was being I was much more

from home I was being I was much more independent forced to be more

independent forced to be more

independent forced to be more independent but as well architecture

independent but as well architecture

independent but as well architecture school as well as kind of education in

school as well as kind of education in

school as well as kind of education in general yes it taught me about how to

general yes it taught me about how to

general yes it taught me about how to design buildings and meant about

design buildings and meant about

design buildings and meant about architecture but what it really taught

architecture but what it really taught

architecture but what it really taught me was how to think how to how to

me was how to think how to how to

me was how to think how to how to challenge conformity I guess how to

challenge conformity I guess how to

challenge conformity I guess how to think outside the box how to recognize

think outside the box how to recognize

think outside the box how to recognize vulnerabilities and how to I guess

vulnerabilities and how to I guess

vulnerabilities and how to I guess innovates and so right at the end of my

innovates and so right at the end of my

innovates and so right at the end of my kind of university experience or career

kind of university experience or career

kind of university experience or career was the crash of the stock market the

was the crash of the stock market the

was the crash of the stock market the financial crisis in the US and so in

financial crisis in the US and so in

financial crisis in the US and so in 2009

2009

2009 because of that there was absolutely no

because of that there was absolutely no

because of that there was absolutely no work for me in the US as an architect as

work for me in the US as an architect as

work for me in the US as an architect as a designer because buildings so the

a designer because buildings so the

a designer because buildings so the first thing people stop creating when

first thing people stop creating when

first thing people stop creating when they don’t have money so rather than

they don’t have money so rather than

they don’t have money so rather than conforming and just staying in Ohio and

conforming and just staying in Ohio and

conforming and just staying in Ohio and you know like many of my colleagues in

you know like many of my colleagues in

you know like many of my colleagues in school just finding alternate

school just finding alternate

school just finding alternate professions or jobs in 2009 and moved to

professions or jobs in 2009 and moved to

professions or jobs in 2009 and moved to Hong Kong and on top of well outside of

Hong Kong and on top of well outside of

Hong Kong and on top of well outside of my design work and the office I was

my design work and the office I was

my design work and the office I was working at I started to recognize the

working at I started to recognize the

working at I started to recognize the street art and graffiti in Hong Kong and

street art and graffiti in Hong Kong and

street art and graffiti in Hong Kong and eventually I started this website which

eventually I started this website which

eventually I started this website which is HK street art which is just a

is HK street art which is just a

is HK street art which is just a photoblog of the documenting the the

photoblog of the documenting the the

photoblog of the documenting the the street art and graffiti in Hong Kong and

street art and graffiti in Hong Kong and

street art and graffiti in Hong Kong and this kind of very non conformist very

this kind of very non conformist very

this kind of very non conformist very subversive art form and I think what was

subversive art form and I think what was

subversive art form and I think what was particularly held my attention

particularly held my attention

particularly held my attention especially different from say the

especially different from say the

especially different from say the Midwest the Midwestern u.s. was the kind

Midwest the Midwestern u.s. was the kind

Midwest the Midwestern u.s. was the kind of diversity in the street art and

of diversity in the street art and

of diversity in the street art and graffiti in Hong Kong because you get

graffiti in Hong Kong because you get

graffiti in Hong Kong because you get things you get a lot of work from the

things you get a lot of work from the

things you get a lot of work from the local artists but you also get a lot of

local artists but you also get a lot of

local artists but you also get a lot of international artists coming through and

international artists coming through and

international artists coming through and adding to that that array of artwork and

adding to that that array of artwork and

adding to that that array of artwork and you get situations like this where you

you get situations like this where you

you get situations like this where you have kind of religious commentary you

have kind of religious commentary you

have kind of religious commentary you have a plumber or electrician and you

have a plumber or electrician and you

have a plumber or electrician and you have a on the left which is Kidult he’s

have a on the left which is Kidult he’s

have a on the left which is Kidult he’s a notorious vandal graffiti writer kind

a notorious vandal graffiti writer kind

a notorious vandal graffiti writer kind of all in one place and this is kind of

of all in one place and this is kind of

of all in one place and this is kind of all over Hong Kong this one is a

all over Hong Kong this one is a

all over Hong Kong this one is a collaboration between a local graffiti

collaboration between a local graffiti

collaboration between a local graffiti writer zine and a UK graffiti writer

writer zine and a UK graffiti writer

writer zine and a UK graffiti writer artist called insa and they did this

artist called insa and they did this

artist called insa and they did this illegally on the street in the middle of

illegally on the street in the middle of

illegally on the street in the middle of the day actually but it’s these

the day actually but it’s these

the day actually but it’s these collaborations that

collaborations that

collaborations that really like held my attention and this

really like held my attention and this

really like held my attention and this one as well not really a collaboration

one as well not really a collaboration

one as well not really a collaboration but say a commentary between two

but say a commentary between two

but say a commentary between two different street artists circle who is

different street artists circle who is

different street artists circle who is here they are us-based and then a local

here they are us-based and then a local

here they are us-based and then a local artist with the goes by this eject

artist with the goes by this eject

artist with the goes by this eject symbol created this pac-man eating them

symbol created this pac-man eating them

symbol created this pac-man eating them as sort of a commentary or kind of a

as sort of a commentary or kind of a

as sort of a commentary or kind of a beginning a dialogue between the two

beginning a dialogue between the two

beginning a dialogue between the two artists another collaboration this one

artists another collaboration this one

artists another collaboration this one however was with permission of the

however was with permission of the

however was with permission of the building owner but between a UK artist

building owner but between a UK artist

building owner but between a UK artist and a local artist but you don’t at the

and a local artist but you don’t at the

and a local artist but you don’t at the time you weren’t seeing much of this you

time you weren’t seeing much of this you

time you weren’t seeing much of this you were seeing a lot more of the the

were seeing a lot more of the the

were seeing a lot more of the the quicker kind of faster things like you

quicker kind of faster things like you

quicker kind of faster things like you see here because when you’re doing when

see here because when you’re doing when

see here because when you’re doing when artists are creating this work you know

artists are creating this work you know

artists are creating this work you know if it’s illegal that to do it fast for a

if it’s illegal that to do it fast for a

if it’s illegal that to do it fast for a risk of being arrested and so kind of in

risk of being arrested and so kind of in

risk of being arrested and so kind of in this this pursuit and documentation of

this this pursuit and documentation of

this this pursuit and documentation of the street on graffiti in Hong Kong I I

the street on graffiti in Hong Kong I I

the street on graffiti in Hong Kong I I realized that the you know because most

realized that the you know because most

realized that the you know because most of it’s done illegally and the speed

of it’s done illegally and the speed

of it’s done illegally and the speed that they want they have to work at

that they want they have to work at

that they want they have to work at artwork like this was actually being

artwork like this was actually being

artwork like this was actually being created off the streets artists would go

created off the streets artists would go

created off the streets artists would go to these to these abandoned buildings to

to these to these abandoned buildings to

to these to these abandoned buildings to to create works of art with where they

to create works of art with where they

to create works of art with where they can it’s still illegal but no one’s

can it’s still illegal but no one’s

can it’s still illegal but no one’s there so they can spend hours working on

there so they can spend hours working on

there so they can spend hours working on one piece of work or like drainage

one piece of work or like drainage

one piece of work or like drainage ditches sailed immune long but the and

ditches sailed immune long but the and

ditches sailed immune long but the and they create works that you know they’re

they create works that you know they’re

they create works that you know they’re stunning but no one really gets to see

stunning but no one really gets to see

stunning but no one really gets to see them aside from other artists and

them aside from other artists and

them aside from other artists and potentially yeah potentially herb Xers

potentially yeah potentially herb Xers

potentially yeah potentially herb Xers certainly but yeah so kind of through

certainly but yeah so kind of through

certainly but yeah so kind of through this I guess

this I guess

this I guess no first couple years in web sorry what

no first couple years in web sorry what

no first couple years in web sorry what else I also noticed is that the

else I also noticed is that the

else I also noticed is that the international artists would also come to

international artists would also come to

international artists would also come to create work here so even when

create work here so even when

create work here so even when international artists were in town safe

international artists were in town safe

international artists were in town safe or just holiday or commissioned work

or just holiday or commissioned work

or just holiday or commissioned work they were also going out to these band

they were also going out to these band

they were also going out to these band buildings of paint again where no one

buildings of paint again where no one

buildings of paint again where no one can see it so over that time I became

can see it so over that time I became

can see it so over that time I became more kind of involved in the scene got

more kind of involved in the scene got

more kind of involved in the scene got to know a lot of people and with the

to know a lot of people and with the

to know a lot of people and with the kind of commercialization of street art

kind of commercialization of street art

kind of commercialization of street art I guess it became more and more popular

I guess it became more and more popular

I guess it became more and more popular in Hong Kong but the people kind of

in Hong Kong but the people kind of

in Hong Kong but the people kind of beginning to organize events around that

beginning to organize events around that

beginning to organize events around that generally didn’t really care much about

generally didn’t really care much about

generally didn’t really care much about the artwork it was generally about

the artwork it was generally about

the artwork it was generally about making money off of it in some way for

making money off of it in some way for

making money off of it in some way for instance the art fairs in Hong Kong and

instance the art fairs in Hong Kong and

instance the art fairs in Hong Kong and so I and other artists became a little

so I and other artists became a little

so I and other artists became a little bit frustrated with that but we also

bit frustrated with that but we also

bit frustrated with that but we also kind of saw a gap basically so you know

kind of saw a gap basically so you know

kind of saw a gap basically so you know we we basically trying to kind of solve

we we basically trying to kind of solve

we we basically trying to kind of solve two problems at once or I guess

two problems at once or I guess

two problems at once or I guess exploiting a vulnerability in the Hong

exploiting a vulnerability in the Hong

exploiting a vulnerability in the Hong Kong art scene we decided could we

Kong art scene we decided could we

Kong art scene we decided could we provide these artists who are spending

provide these artists who are spending

provide these artists who are spending all of the time in hiding creating

all of the time in hiding creating

all of the time in hiding creating beautiful works of art provide them with

beautiful works of art provide them with

beautiful works of art provide them with public space where they can spend time

public space where they can spend time

public space where they can spend time legally and the public is to to

legally and the public is to to

legally and the public is to to experience and enjoy it and so we

experience and enjoy it and so we

experience and enjoy it and so we basically rounded up as many of our

basically rounded up as many of our

basically rounded up as many of our friends and basically went door-to-door

friends and basically went door-to-door

friends and basically went door-to-door talking to stakeholders tenants building

talking to stakeholders tenants building

talking to stakeholders tenants building owners all over Sheung WAN and gathered

owners all over Sheung WAN and gathered

owners all over Sheung WAN and gathered permission for about 15 different walls

permission for about 15 different walls

permission for about 15 different walls around Sheung WAN and then invited

around Sheung WAN and then invited

around Sheung WAN and then invited artists to come well we set a date

artists to come well we set a date

artists to come well we set a date during art basel as kind of an

during art basel as kind of an

during art basel as kind of an alternative to the VIP parties and the

alternative to the VIP parties and the

alternative to the VIP parties and the the ticketed events which

the ticketed events which

the ticketed events which don’t really represent this section of

don’t really represent this section of

don’t really represent this section of this this art form too much aside from

this this art form too much aside from

this this art form too much aside from say the bank sees in the Shepard

say the bank sees in the Shepard

say the bank sees in the Shepard Fairey’s but so we wanted to kind of

Fairey’s but so we wanted to kind of

Fairey’s but so we wanted to kind of fill that gap and create something that

fill that gap and create something that

fill that gap and create something that was actually free and for the public

was actually free and for the public

was actually free and for the public that they could come and enjoy and

that they could come and enjoy and

that they could come and enjoy and actually engage with the artists so we

actually engage with the artists so we

actually engage with the artists so we invited all the artists to come and

invited all the artists to come and

invited all the artists to come and paint paint these walls throughout the

paint paint these walls throughout the

paint paint these walls throughout the week and we invited the public to come

week and we invited the public to come

week and we invited the public to come and basically witness that and see see

and basically witness that and see see

and basically witness that and see see how the works created engage with the

how the works created engage with the

how the works created engage with the artists and created kind of a social

artists and created kind of a social

artists and created kind of a social event around that so this is just some

event around that so this is just some

event around that so this is just some of a few a few of the pieces the first

of a few a few of the pieces the first

of a few a few of the pieces the first year i think we painted around 15 15

year i think we painted around 15 15

year i think we painted around 15 15 walls all ensuring lon all within

walls all ensuring lon all within

walls all ensuring lon all within walking distance so you can kind of make

walking distance so you can kind of make

walking distance so you can kind of make a short tour of it and we involved i

a short tour of it and we involved i

a short tour of it and we involved i think 25 artists and so kind of again

think 25 artists and so kind of again

think 25 artists and so kind of again always trying to think a bit out of the

always trying to think a bit out of the

always trying to think a bit out of the box moving into the next year always

box moving into the next year always

box moving into the next year always kind of trying to challenge not only I

kind of trying to challenge not only I

kind of trying to challenge not only I guess the art scene in Hong Kong but

guess the art scene in Hong Kong but

guess the art scene in Hong Kong but challenge ourselves and the idea of kind

challenge ourselves and the idea of kind

challenge ourselves and the idea of kind of giving these artists more exposure

of giving these artists more exposure

of giving these artists more exposure and giving the public access to to this

and giving the public access to to this

and giving the public access to to this artwork we again painted a number of

artwork we again painted a number of

artwork we again painted a number of murals and pieces of art all through

murals and pieces of art all through

murals and pieces of art all through sheung wan and we even painted a few

sheung wan and we even painted a few

sheung wan and we even painted a few vehicles and actually an entire building

what we added this the second year was

what we added this the second year was we added a second neighborhood so we

we added a second neighborhood so we

we added a second neighborhood so we were approached by some people who are

were approached by some people who are

were approached by some people who are based in stanley market and they said

based in stanley market and they said

based in stanley market and they said hey you know are the markets great

hey you know are the markets great

hey you know are the markets great during the day is Lively’s touristy

during the day is Lively’s touristy

during the day is Lively’s touristy people come through but at night it’s

people come through but at night it’s

people come through but at night it’s complete

complete

complete Lee Dead is quite dark and dingy it’s

Lee Dead is quite dark and dingy it’s

Lee Dead is quite dark and dingy it’s not it’s just not a super pleasant place

not it’s just not a super pleasant place

not it’s just not a super pleasant place just this narrow dark series of

just this narrow dark series of

just this narrow dark series of corridors and they said you know can we

corridors and they said you know can we

corridors and they said you know can we do something here and we said you know

do something here and we said you know

do something here and we said you know absolutely that sounds that sounds

absolutely that sounds that sounds

absolutely that sounds that sounds amazing so we brought in as many artists

amazing so we brought in as many artists

amazing so we brought in as many artists as we could basically the week following

as we could basically the week following

as we could basically the week following we basically extended the festival a

we basically extended the festival a

we basically extended the festival a second week in to stanley market and

second week in to stanley market and

second week in to stanley market and created I think we painted a number

created I think we painted a number

created I think we painted a number maybe around like 30 different shutters

maybe around like 30 different shutters

maybe around like 30 different shutters all throughout stanley market to kind of

all throughout stanley market to kind of

all throughout stanley market to kind of try to bring some life to that too and

try to bring some life to that too and

try to bring some life to that too and some color but so in addition to the

some color but so in addition to the

some color but so in addition to the kind of party and events the the social

kind of party and events the the social

kind of party and events the the social aspect surrounding all of the painting

aspect surrounding all of the painting

aspect surrounding all of the painting we wanted to give back to the artists as

we wanted to give back to the artists as

we wanted to give back to the artists as well trying to think about how we could

well trying to think about how we could

well trying to think about how we could do better how we could expand what we do

do better how we could expand what we do

do better how we could expand what we do and so we invited artists to to bring

and so we invited artists to to bring

and so we invited artists to to bring their own artwork and we hired a

their own artwork and we hired a

their own artwork and we hired a temporary space just for the week to

temporary space just for the week to

temporary space just for the week to sell it we exhibited it and that that

sell it we exhibited it and that that

sell it we exhibited it and that that basically gave the artist a little bit

basically gave the artist a little bit

basically gave the artist a little bit of kick back for the work they’re

of kick back for the work they’re

of kick back for the work they’re creating but also give the public an

creating but also give the public an

creating but also give the public an opportunity to buy work from these

opportunity to buy work from these

opportunity to buy work from these artists who are not being represented

artists who are not being represented

artists who are not being represented elsewhere but who are painting in the

elsewhere but who are painting in the

elsewhere but who are painting in the streets so after that experience we

streets so after that experience we

streets so after that experience we thought okay it was great to move

thought okay it was great to move

thought okay it was great to move neighborhoods that way we don’t have to

neighborhoods that way we don’t have to

neighborhoods that way we don’t have to we don’t have to paint over the same the

we don’t have to paint over the same the

we don’t have to paint over the same the same artwork it can stay a little bit

same artwork it can stay a little bit

same artwork it can stay a little bit longer but maybe we should try to get

longer but maybe we should try to get

longer but maybe we should try to get off Hong Kong Island you know it’s a bit

off Hong Kong Island you know it’s a bit

off Hong Kong Island you know it’s a bit get a more diverse following or impact a

get a more diverse following or impact a

get a more diverse following or impact a different crowd or a different different

different crowd or a different different

different crowd or a different different population so we thought what is the

population so we thought what is the

population so we thought what is the what is the most different from say

what is the most different from say

what is the most different from say sheung wan and we decided on Tom’s repo

sheung wan and we decided on Tom’s repo

sheung wan and we decided on Tom’s repo and again we painted a number of things

and again we painted a number of things

and again we painted a number of things i think it was around 40 different

i think it was around 40 different

i think it was around 40 different pieces of artwork all throughout the

pieces of artwork all throughout the

pieces of artwork all throughout the throughout scattered across jumped repo

throughout scattered across jumped repo

throughout scattered across jumped repo and engaging everything from entire

and engaging everything from entire

and engaging everything from entire buildings have to entire buildings this

buildings have to entire buildings this

buildings have to entire buildings this one’s the golden computer center you go

one’s the golden computer center you go

one’s the golden computer center you go to get all your electronics to

to get all your electronics to

to get all your electronics to individual walls the woman who lived

individual walls the woman who lived

individual walls the woman who lived here came to us and said hey you know

here came to us and said hey you know

here came to us and said hey you know people are leaving garbage out in front

people are leaving garbage out in front

people are leaving garbage out in front of my my building could you paint

of my my building could you paint

of my my building could you paint something beautiful that maybe they’ll

something beautiful that maybe they’ll

something beautiful that maybe they’ll start to respect and clean up after

start to respect and clean up after

start to respect and clean up after themselves um to the the tin houses

themselves um to the the tin houses

themselves um to the the tin houses which open up during the day and

which open up during the day and

which open up during the day and cell-cell fabrics but so again we

cell-cell fabrics but so again we

cell-cell fabrics but so again we continued with with the print gallery

continued with with the print gallery

continued with with the print gallery this the selling selling the artists

this the selling selling the artists

this the selling selling the artists work but we added public workshops so we

work but we added public workshops so we

work but we added public workshops so we had about three wheat in three weeks i

had about three wheat in three weeks i

had about three wheat in three weeks i think we had 40 public workshops

think we had 40 public workshops

think we had 40 public workshops inviting schools from all over chomps

inviting schools from all over chomps

inviting schools from all over chomps repo and learning centers and some we’re

repo and learning centers and some we’re

repo and learning centers and some we’re open to the public as well to come and

open to the public as well to come and

open to the public as well to come and kind of learn how to do the kind of

kind of learn how to do the kind of

kind of learn how to do the kind of basics of street art and other art forms

and this one I can’t really we can’t

and this one I can’t really we can’t really take credit for because we didn’t

really take credit for because we didn’t

really take credit for because we didn’t organize but a an NGO in geometry poke

organize but a an NGO in geometry poke

organize but a an NGO in geometry poke came to us and said hey they’re called

came to us and said hey they’re called

came to us and said hey they’re called Big Brother English and they basically

Big Brother English and they basically

Big Brother English and they basically take take young students in shrunk repo

take take young students in shrunk repo

take take young students in shrunk repo out of the classroom till to learn

out of the classroom till to learn

out of the classroom till to learn English in real-life situations based on

English in real-life situations based on

English in real-life situations based on whatever it is they’re doing that day so

whatever it is they’re doing that day so

whatever it is they’re doing that day so they came and they brought they brought

they came and they brought they brought

they came and they brought they brought the students to see all the artwork

the students to see all the artwork

the students to see all the artwork being created they got to meet the

being created they got to meet the

being created they got to meet the artists and basically create their own

artists and basically create their own

artists and basically create their own little pieces of artwork as well and so

little pieces of artwork as well and so

little pieces of artwork as well and so I guess the the kind of yeah the point

I guess the the kind of yeah the point

I guess the the kind of yeah the point is that we’re really just trying to and

is that we’re really just trying to and

is that we’re really just trying to and you know continue to bring exposure to

you know continue to bring exposure to

you know continue to bring exposure to these artists continue to bring artwork

these artists continue to bring artwork

these artists continue to bring artwork into the public because you know you

into the public because you know you

into the public because you know you shouldn’t have to go to a gallery to see

shouldn’t have to go to a gallery to see

shouldn’t have to go to a gallery to see this stuff it should be it should be

this stuff it should be it should be

this stuff it should be it should be available to everyone and

available to everyone and

available to everyone and have to obviously continue to try to

have to obviously continue to try to

have to obviously continue to try to challenge our own conformity and how we

challenge our own conformity and how we

challenge our own conformity and how we operate and how and try to think out of

operate and how and try to think out of

operate and how and try to think out of the box and how we can always do better

the box and how we can always do better

the box and how we can always do better so I don’t know we’ll see where 2017

so I don’t know we’ll see where 2017

so I don’t know we’ll see where 2017 takes us thank you

takes us thank you

takes us thank you [Applause]