hi you know I have to tell you a little bit about my family first I come from
bit about my family first I come from
bit about my family first I come from this really boring academic scientific
this really boring academic scientific
this really boring academic scientific family and you know every male member is
family and you know every male member is
family and you know every male member is given the task of bringing back home Ivy
given the task of bringing back home Ivy
given the task of bringing back home Ivy League decals for our classic ambassador
League decals for our classic ambassador
League decals for our classic ambassador car in India you know my mother’s a
car in India you know my mother’s a
car in India you know my mother’s a little different she’s a bit of a hippie
little different she’s a bit of a hippie
little different she’s a bit of a hippie she’s the one who taught me how to love
she’s the one who taught me how to love
she’s the one who taught me how to love and she hates it when I say that but she
and she hates it when I say that but she
and she hates it when I say that but she is a hippie and my father’s a
is a hippie and my father’s a
is a hippie and my father’s a philosophical dude that’s not exactly
philosophical dude that’s not exactly
philosophical dude that’s not exactly how he looks but when I was in high
how he looks but when I was in high
how he looks but when I was in high school I went up to him and I said but
school I went up to him and I said but
school I went up to him and I said but what is the meaning of education you
what is the meaning of education you
what is the meaning of education you know he loved philosophical questions
know he loved philosophical questions
know he loved philosophical questions and he said you know education your
and he said you know education your
and he said you know education your education is hijacked by Industrial
education is hijacked by Industrial
education is hijacked by Industrial Revolution he said real education is
Revolution he said real education is
Revolution he said real education is about learning discipline it’s about
about learning discipline it’s about
about learning discipline it’s about learning how to learn
learning how to learn
learning how to learn it’s about being curious and all these
it’s about being curious and all these
it’s about being curious and all these beautiful things you know it’s about
beautiful things you know it’s about
beautiful things you know it’s about good citizenship so I listened very
good citizenship so I listened very
good citizenship so I listened very carefully he also said there’s a big
carefully he also said there’s a big
carefully he also said there’s a big difference between learning and
difference between learning and
difference between learning and education he said education is what a
education he said education is what a
education he said education is what a system does to you
system does to you
system does to you learning is what you do to yourself
learning is what you do to yourself
learning is what you do to yourself education is supposed to lead to
education is supposed to lead to
education is supposed to lead to learning so I said Wow all of these are
learning so I said Wow all of these are
learning so I said Wow all of these are cool ideas so I went back to my room a
cool ideas so I went back to my room a
cool ideas so I went back to my room a couple of weeks later I came back to him
couple of weeks later I came back to him
couple of weeks later I came back to him I said ba I decided I’m going to do all
I said ba I decided I’m going to do all
I said ba I decided I’m going to do all these things and want to be hard-working
these things and want to be hard-working
these things and want to be hard-working wanna be disciplined and I’m gonna be
wanna be disciplined and I’m gonna be
wanna be disciplined and I’m gonna be emotionally and financially independent
emotionally and financially independent
emotionally and financially independent of you guys he was getting so emotional
of you guys he was getting so emotional
of you guys he was getting so emotional if he came to give me a hug I said wait
if he came to give me a hug I said wait
if he came to give me a hug I said wait wait hold that thought
wait hold that thought
wait hold that thought can I quit school then
can I quit school then
can I quit school then so to cut a long story short I quit
so to cut a long story short I quit
so to cut a long story short I quit formal education after high school to
formal education after high school to
formal education after high school to pursue learning where the world was my
pursue learning where the world was my
pursue learning where the world was my classroom and what I what I’m really
classroom and what I what I’m really
classroom and what I what I’m really excited about being here at National
excited about being here at National
excited about being here at National Geographic is that I’ve always seen
Geographic is that I’ve always seen
Geographic is that I’ve always seen myself as an explorer and an explorer
myself as an explorer and an explorer
myself as an explorer and an explorer who uses art as a tool for learning more
who uses art as a tool for learning more
who uses art as a tool for learning more about myself and the world around me I’m
about myself and the world around me I’m
about myself and the world around me I’m also excited because I just found out
also excited because I just found out
also excited because I just found out we’re having our third baby and yeah I’m
we’re having our third baby and yeah I’m
we’re having our third baby and yeah I’m really excited thank you I’m shameless
really excited thank you I’m shameless
really excited thank you I’m shameless and speaking of babies I asked my my to
and speaking of babies I asked my my to
and speaking of babies I asked my my to my three-year-old daughter why she’s
my three-year-old daughter why she’s
my three-year-old daughter why she’s being ridiculously naughty why she looks
being ridiculously naughty why she looks
being ridiculously naughty why she looks at me like I’m totally mad she shrugs
at me like I’m totally mad she shrugs
at me like I’m totally mad she shrugs her shoulders says I don’t know just
her shoulders says I don’t know just
her shoulders says I don’t know just because that’s when it occurred to me
because that’s when it occurred to me
because that’s when it occurred to me that as we grow up we have this peculiar
that as we grow up we have this peculiar
that as we grow up we have this peculiar part of our brain that tells us stories
part of our brain that tells us stories
part of our brain that tells us stories that makes sense of of our actions it’s
that makes sense of of our actions it’s
that makes sense of of our actions it’s constantly telling us a very cohesive
constantly telling us a very cohesive
constantly telling us a very cohesive story of who we are and the world around
story of who we are and the world around
story of who we are and the world around us we are all storytellers and you’re
us we are all storytellers and you’re
us we are all storytellers and you’re probably going to hear this the whole
probably going to hear this the whole
probably going to hear this the whole day we are all storytellers artists
day we are all storytellers artists
day we are all storytellers artists doctors hackers paleontologists all of
doctors hackers paleontologists all of
doctors hackers paleontologists all of us are solely tellers and I think when
us are solely tellers and I think when
us are solely tellers and I think when we share these stories with each other
we share these stories with each other
we share these stories with each other it becomes knowledge I think there are
it becomes knowledge I think there are
it becomes knowledge I think there are two ways by which we share knowledge
two ways by which we share knowledge
two ways by which we share knowledge with the world you must remember I quit
with the world you must remember I quit
with the world you must remember I quit formal education but I continued to
formal education but I continued to
formal education but I continued to learn and I’ve never understood the
learn and I’ve never understood the
learn and I’ve never understood the underlying structures of knowledge until
underlying structures of knowledge until
underlying structures of knowledge until I went to the real world I think there
I went to the real world I think there
I went to the real world I think there are two ways by which we learn from the
are two ways by which we learn from the
are two ways by which we learn from the world one is knowledge deployed by the
world one is knowledge deployed by the
world one is knowledge deployed by the expert the individual the school the
expert the individual the school the
expert the individual the school the magazine and then there’s a newer form
magazine and then there’s a newer form
magazine and then there’s a newer form of knowledge which is knowledge deployed
of knowledge which is knowledge deployed
of knowledge which is knowledge deployed by the crowd but I have an issue with
by the crowd but I have an issue with
by the crowd but I have an issue with both these forms of knowledge I think
both these forms of knowledge I think
both these forms of knowledge I think knowledge deployed by the individual is
knowledge deployed by the individual is
knowledge deployed by the individual is full of personal bias some stick whether
full of personal bias some stick whether
full of personal bias some stick whether it’s education for good citizenship for
it’s education for good citizenship for
it’s education for good citizenship for innovation whatever it is it’s full of
innovation whatever it is it’s full of
innovation whatever it is it’s full of personal bias knowledge deployed by the
personal bias knowledge deployed by the
personal bias knowledge deployed by the crowd imagine one truth like Wikipedia
crowd imagine one truth like Wikipedia
crowd imagine one truth like Wikipedia one truth emerges from a crowd that
one truth emerges from a crowd that
one truth emerges from a crowd that survives all these edit was and it’s
survives all these edit was and it’s
survives all these edit was and it’s ridiculous it becomes disinterested
ridiculous it becomes disinterested
ridiculous it becomes disinterested I want to see the emergence of a third
I want to see the emergence of a third
I want to see the emergence of a third form of knowledge one in which multiple
form of knowledge one in which multiple
form of knowledge one in which multiple truths coexist to tell a richer
truths coexist to tell a richer
truths coexist to tell a richer understanding of who we are and when
understanding of who we are and when
understanding of who we are and when people ask me who are you so difficult
people ask me who are you so difficult
people ask me who are you so difficult to answer that I play all these
to answer that I play all these
to answer that I play all these different roles I’m a philosopher I’m a
different roles I’m a philosopher I’m a
different roles I’m a philosopher I’m a businessman a politician I’m an artist
businessman a politician I’m an artist
businessman a politician I’m an artist and this is not peculiar to me it is to
and this is not peculiar to me it is to
and this is not peculiar to me it is to everyone and I think for me my art is
everyone and I think for me my art is
everyone and I think for me my art is about truth and truth for me is about
about truth and truth for me is about
about truth and truth for me is about perspectives now you must wonder why I
perspectives now you must wonder why I
perspectives now you must wonder why I think like this I think like this
think like this I think like this
think like this I think like this because I come from a very small country
because I come from a very small country
because I come from a very small country of 1.3 billion people it’s called India
of 1.3 billion people it’s called India
of 1.3 billion people it’s called India and in this country what is strange we
and in this country what is strange we
and in this country what is strange we know that we’ve heard about the
know that we’ve heard about the
know that we’ve heard about the corruption in the country we’ve heard
corruption in the country we’ve heard
corruption in the country we’ve heard about the population we’ve heard about
about the population we’ve heard about
about the population we’ve heard about oh there’s so many stories about the
oh there’s so many stories about the
oh there’s so many stories about the service economy but what we don’t know
service economy but what we don’t know
service economy but what we don’t know is it’s the world’s most impossible
is it’s the world’s most impossible
is it’s the world’s most impossible democracy there’s absolutely nothing
democracy there’s absolutely nothing
democracy there’s absolutely nothing that makes two Indians Indian not
that makes two Indians Indian not
that makes two Indians Indian not religion not language not food not
religion not language not food not
religion not language not food not culture maybe Bollywood and cricket but
culture maybe Bollywood and cricket but
culture maybe Bollywood and cricket but not really look at our banknote we have
not really look at our banknote we have
not really look at our banknote we have 15 languages in which it says one rupee
15 languages in which it says one rupee
15 languages in which it says one rupee that would scare anybody you know so
that would scare anybody you know so
that would scare anybody you know so when we talk about secularism in India
when we talk about secularism in India
when we talk about secularism in India we don’t say everyone comes to India and
we don’t say everyone comes to India and
we don’t say everyone comes to India and becomes a melting pot we say you come to
becomes a melting pot we say you come to
becomes a melting pot we say you come to India and become a buffet it’s like a
India and become a buffet it’s like a
India and become a buffet it’s like a trolley it’s a very different
trolley it’s a very different
trolley it’s a very different understanding and this is my education
understanding and this is my education
understanding and this is my education I’m a Hindu I went to a good Christian
I’m a Hindu I went to a good Christian
I’m a Hindu I went to a good Christian school I start my nuns brothers sisters
school I start my nuns brothers sisters
school I start my nuns brothers sisters all these but basically brought up to be
all these but basically brought up to be
all these but basically brought up to be a good Samaritan and hopefully I am and
a good Samaritan and hopefully I am and
a good Samaritan and hopefully I am and then I’d go at the end of the day – the
then I’d go at the end of the day – the
then I’d go at the end of the day – the only Hindu house in an Islamic
only Hindu house in an Islamic
only Hindu house in an Islamic neighbourhood and this is not unusual
neighbourhood and this is not unusual
neighbourhood and this is not unusual for most Indians so when I had my art
for most Indians so when I had my art
for most Indians so when I had my art shows what I would do is I was trying to
shows what I would do is I was trying to
shows what I would do is I was trying to recreate Indian history through multiple
recreate Indian history through multiple
recreate Indian history through multiple perspectives a more honest document of
perspectives a more honest document of
perspectives a more honest document of Industry I think within every thinking
Industry I think within every thinking
Industry I think within every thinking Indian lies a Gandhian a Marxist and a
Indian lies a Gandhian a Marxist and a
Indian lies a Gandhian a Marxist and a Cartoon Network character fighting for
Cartoon Network character fighting for
Cartoon Network character fighting for supremacy
so when I had my first child I was
so when I had my first child I was thinking how am I going to pass on this
thinking how am I going to pass on this
thinking how am I going to pass on this idea of perspectives to him so I want to
idea of perspectives to him so I want to
idea of perspectives to him so I want to share with your children’s book I made
share with your children’s book I made
share with your children’s book I made for the iPad you know I have a problem
for the iPad you know I have a problem
for the iPad you know I have a problem with children’s books I think they’re
with children’s books I think they’re
with children’s books I think they’re full of propaganda so I said I’m going
full of propaganda so I said I’m going
full of propaganda so I said I’m going to counter this as my own propaganda if
to counter this as my own propaganda if
to counter this as my own propaganda if you notice carefully
you notice carefully
you notice carefully it’s a homosexual couple bringing up a
it’s a homosexual couple bringing up a
it’s a homosexual couple bringing up a child you don’t like it shake it and you
child you don’t like it shake it and you
child you don’t like it shake it and you have a lesbian couple shake it and you
have a lesbian couple shake it and you
have a lesbian couple shake it and you have a heterosexual couple but but I
have a heterosexual couple but but I
have a heterosexual couple but but I think teaching perspectives is the best
think teaching perspectives is the best
think teaching perspectives is the best way to learn about a people and that
way to learn about a people and that
way to learn about a people and that only when you teach perspectives can you
only when you teach perspectives can you
only when you teach perspectives can you teach creativity because creativity
teach creativity because creativity
teach creativity because creativity comes from exposure and only when you’re
comes from exposure and only when you’re
comes from exposure and only when you’re creative can you imagine yourself in the
creative can you imagine yourself in the
creative can you imagine yourself in the shoes of someone different from you
shoes of someone different from you
shoes of someone different from you so I’d like to argue that perspectives
so I’d like to argue that perspectives
so I’d like to argue that perspectives and creativity and gender empathy and
and creativity and gender empathy and
and creativity and gender empathy and much needed in this world right now this
much needed in this world right now this
much needed in this world right now this book of mine did really well what I made
book of mine did really well what I made
book of mine did really well what I made for my son became a bit of a movement I
for my son became a bit of a movement I
for my son became a bit of a movement I got a book award without a single word
got a book award without a single word
got a book award without a single word in that book and we got International
in that book and we got International
in that book and we got International Press
Press
Press Ted launched it I had millions of
Ted launched it I had millions of
Ted launched it I had millions of viewers but there was a part of me that
viewers but there was a part of me that
viewers but there was a part of me that was really sad because the book that I
was really sad because the book that I
was really sad because the book that I created that I started out to create on
created that I started out to create on
created that I started out to create on India’s independence never happened
India’s independence never happened
India’s independence never happened because no historian was willing to lend
because no historian was willing to lend
because no historian was willing to lend credibility to this project
credibility to this project
credibility to this project that’s because firstly there were many
that’s because firstly there were many
that’s because firstly there were many historians both in Pakistan and India
historians both in Pakistan and India
historians both in Pakistan and India who would fight amongst each other for
who would fight amongst each other for
who would fight amongst each other for who was right not only that they kept
who was right not only that they kept
who was right not only that they kept changing their minds every time new
changing their minds every time new
changing their minds every time new evidence came along so what I realized
evidence came along so what I realized
evidence came along so what I realized and this was critical for me is that
and this was critical for me is that
and this was critical for me is that truth is not just perspectives but truth
truth is not just perspectives but truth
truth is not just perspectives but truth consists of dynamic ever-changing
consists of dynamic ever-changing
consists of dynamic ever-changing perspectives and for my art to truly
perspectives and for my art to truly
perspectives and for my art to truly come alive I thought I have to bring
come alive I thought I have to bring
come alive I thought I have to bring dynamism and I couldn’t do it within the
dynamism and I couldn’t do it within the
dynamism and I couldn’t do it within the art world alone I had to reach out to
art world alone I had to reach out to
art world alone I had to reach out to science as you can see I’m wearing this
science as you can see I’m wearing this
science as you can see I’m wearing this cool gadget I want to show you my latest
cool gadget I want to show you my latest
cool gadget I want to show you my latest art project that brings live
art project that brings live
art project that brings live perspectives to my art this eg had said
perspectives to my art this eg had said
perspectives to my art this eg had said my brainwaves and it tells my computer
my brainwaves and it tells my computer
my brainwaves and it tells my computer what my mental state is how attentive
what my mental state is how attentive
what my mental state is how attentive meditative focused I am and then it
meditative focused I am and then it
meditative focused I am and then it changes my art based on my mental state
changes my art based on my mental state
changes my art based on my mental state I want to introduce you the Mona Lisa
I want to introduce you the Mona Lisa
I want to introduce you the Mona Lisa 2.0 little older Lisa I’m going to
2.0 little older Lisa I’m going to
2.0 little older Lisa I’m going to project my mental state onto her as you
project my mental state onto her as you
project my mental state onto her as you can see live
can see live
can see live she’s reflecting my mental state I’m
she’s reflecting my mental state I’m
she’s reflecting my mental state I’m going to try right now and make a smile
going to try right now and make a smile
going to try right now and make a smile for you by coming down
oh I was saying what was I thinking you
oh I was saying what was I thinking you think I could calm down in front of
think I could calm down in front of
think I could calm down in front of NatGeo in front of all you guys not bad
NatGeo in front of all you guys not bad
NatGeo in front of all you guys not bad at least that came close anyway I want
at least that came close anyway I want
at least that came close anyway I want to quickly show you some of the other
to quickly show you some of the other
to quickly show you some of the other projects I’m working on with Sean
projects I’m working on with Sean
projects I’m working on with Sean Stevens from new view this is a work I
Stevens from new view this is a work I
Stevens from new view this is a work I made for people who bought loved Gandhi
made for people who bought loved Gandhi
made for people who bought loved Gandhi and hate Gandhi use your brainwaves to
and hate Gandhi use your brainwaves to
and hate Gandhi use your brainwaves to keep him smiling everyone’s getting
keep him smiling everyone’s getting
keep him smiling everyone’s getting along you stress them out and he’ll be
along you stress them out and he’ll be
along you stress them out and he’ll be the cause for communal violence among
the cause for communal violence among
the cause for communal violence among the cartoons you decide how you leave
the cartoons you decide how you leave
the cartoons you decide how you leave your Gandhi this is a very simple work I
your Gandhi this is a very simple work I
your Gandhi this is a very simple work I may get into trouble I have my getaway
may get into trouble I have my getaway
may get into trouble I have my getaway car it’s for my American friends it’s
car it’s for my American friends it’s
car it’s for my American friends it’s really simple it’s just red but then you
really simple it’s just red but then you
really simple it’s just red but then you use your brain waves to discover that
use your brain waves to discover that
use your brain waves to discover that there’s an entire spectrum between red
there’s an entire spectrum between red
there’s an entire spectrum between red and blue it’s called learning
and blue it’s called learning
and blue it’s called learning flexibility America thank you meet venus
flexibility America thank you meet venus
flexibility America thank you meet venus 2.0 really fashionable because she just
2.0 really fashionable because she just
2.0 really fashionable because she just got off a visit from the indian
got off a visit from the indian
got off a visit from the indian censorship bureau don’t like censorship
censorship bureau don’t like censorship
censorship bureau don’t like censorship think naughty thoughts use your
think naughty thoughts use your
think naughty thoughts use your brainwaves and you can uncensor huh
brainwaves and you can uncensor huh
brainwaves and you can uncensor huh and when you completely uncensored her
and when you completely uncensored her
and when you completely uncensored her you can even set her free
speaking of censorship
speaking of censorship the one thing it cannot censor are your
the one thing it cannot censor are your
the one thing it cannot censor are your brainwaves you may be able to censor
brainwaves you may be able to censor
brainwaves you may be able to censor your words but not your thoughts because
your words but not your thoughts because
your words but not your thoughts because half of them come from the subconscious
half of them come from the subconscious
half of them come from the subconscious so the next time you come and see my art
so the next time you come and see my art
so the next time you come and see my art show be careful what you think because
show be careful what you think because
show be careful what you think because you’re gonna participate to bring my
you’re gonna participate to bring my
you’re gonna participate to bring my work to life using your biochemistry
work to life using your biochemistry
work to life using your biochemistry your brainwaves your thoughts and you
your brainwaves your thoughts and you
your brainwaves your thoughts and you can’t even help yourself but be honest
can’t even help yourself but be honest
can’t even help yourself but be honest the role of my spectator has now changed
the role of my spectator has now changed
the role of my spectator has now changed from someone who’s just looking at my
from someone who’s just looking at my
from someone who’s just looking at my work or buying my work and don’t stop
work or buying my work and don’t stop
work or buying my work and don’t stop doing that but but also be a co-creator
doing that but but also be a co-creator
doing that but but also be a co-creator participate in bringing my work to life
participate in bringing my work to life
participate in bringing my work to life and for me it’s really exciting that I’m
and for me it’s really exciting that I’m
and for me it’s really exciting that I’m here because I believe that I could have
here because I believe that I could have
here because I believe that I could have never done this within the silos of the
never done this within the silos of the
never done this within the silos of the art world I had to learn to color
art world I had to learn to color
art world I had to learn to color outside the line and reach out to
outside the line and reach out to
outside the line and reach out to science we’re here to explore with the
science we’re here to explore with the
science we’re here to explore with the scientists I think of art and science is
scientists I think of art and science is
scientists I think of art and science is not in competition but really as
not in competition but really as
not in competition but really as complementary to each other and and I
complementary to each other and and I
complementary to each other and and I hope that science and art will Science
hope that science and art will Science
hope that science and art will Science and Technology will return this favor by
and Technology will return this favor by
and Technology will return this favor by working with artists to explore the
working with artists to explore the
working with artists to explore the world I think art and science are two
world I think art and science are two
world I think art and science are two eyes of the same body open one eye and
eyes of the same body open one eye and
eyes of the same body open one eye and you see this beautiful world around you
you see this beautiful world around you
you see this beautiful world around you open the other and it adds a kind of
open the other and it adds a kind of
open the other and it adds a kind of depth
depth
depth you can’t even articulate you know I
you can’t even articulate you know I
you can’t even articulate you know I told you I’m having another baby and I’m
told you I’m having another baby and I’m
told you I’m having another baby and I’m thinking about what kind of a world do I
thinking about what kind of a world do I
thinking about what kind of a world do I want to leave behind for my child and
want to leave behind for my child and
want to leave behind for my child and the truth is I cannot promise my child a
the truth is I cannot promise my child a
the truth is I cannot promise my child a life with that bias
life with that bias
life with that bias we’re all bloody biased but I promise to
we’re all bloody biased but I promise to
we’re all bloody biased but I promise to bias my child with as many perspectives
bias my child with as many perspectives
bias my child with as many perspectives as possible and I hope you all hear
as possible and I hope you all hear
as possible and I hope you all hear we’ll use artists to help you share your
we’ll use artists to help you share your
we’ll use artists to help you share your story with multiple perspectives and
story with multiple perspectives and
story with multiple perspectives and bias everyone with as many perspectives
bias everyone with as many perspectives
bias everyone with as many perspectives as possible thank you so much
”
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