[Music] one step beyond welcome this is a
one step beyond welcome this is a
one step beyond welcome this is a special place things look different here
special place things look different here
special place things look different here the flowers exist only in one color and
the flowers exist only in one color and
the flowers exist only in one color and lighter and in darker shades and it’s
lighter and in darker shades and it’s
lighter and in darker shades and it’s not only the flowers but also the trees
not only the flowers but also the trees
not only the flowers but also the trees the ocean the river
the ocean the river
the ocean the river your face your hands and this island
your face your hands and this island
your face your hands and this island color does not exist welcome to the
color does not exist welcome to the
color does not exist welcome to the island of the colorblind 250 years ago a
island of the colorblind 250 years ago a
island of the colorblind 250 years ago a disaster struck the island a typhoon
disaster struck the island a typhoon
disaster struck the island a typhoon washed over pinga lap something must
washed over pinga lap something must
washed over pinga lap something must have angered the highest spirit isso pal
have angered the highest spirit isso pal
have angered the highest spirit isso pal almost everything on the island was
almost everything on the island was
almost everything on the island was destroyed only 20 people survived one of
destroyed only 20 people survived one of
destroyed only 20 people survived one of them was a king and another was his wife
them was a king and another was his wife
them was a king and another was his wife the Queen when the spirit is so power
the Queen when the spirit is so power
the Queen when the spirit is so power saw the Queen he fell in love with her
saw the Queen he fell in love with her
saw the Queen he fell in love with her he started to visit her at night and
he started to visit her at night and
he started to visit her at night and they had children and their children
they had children and their children
they had children and their children shunned the light and everything they
shunned the light and everything they
shunned the light and everything they saw was black and white but at night
saw was black and white but at night
saw was black and white but at night they seemed to see better like their
they seemed to see better like their
they seemed to see better like their ghostly father I’d like to ask you to
ghostly father I’d like to ask you to
ghostly father I’d like to ask you to close your eyes for a moment just a
close your eyes for a moment just a
close your eyes for a moment just a short moment try to remember the green
short moment try to remember the green
short moment try to remember the green of palm tree leaves try to imagine the
of palm tree leaves try to imagine the
of palm tree leaves try to imagine the blue of the ocean can you recall what
blue of the ocean can you recall what
blue of the ocean can you recall what color the person next to you is wearing
color the person next to you is wearing
color the person next to you is wearing open your eyes I told you the myths of
open your eyes I told you the myths of
open your eyes I told you the myths of Pingel up but Pingel up is not a
Pingel up but Pingel up is not a
Pingel up but Pingel up is not a fictional place Bingle up is real it’s a
fictional place Bingle up is real it’s a
fictional place Bingle up is real it’s a tiny island hidden deep in the Pacific
tiny island hidden deep in the Pacific
tiny island hidden deep in the Pacific Ocean the well-known neurologist and
Ocean the well-known neurologist and
Ocean the well-known neurologist and writer Oliver Sacks
writer Oliver Sacks
writer Oliver Sacks wrote a book about it called the island
wrote a book about it called the island
wrote a book about it called the island of the color blind I have found out
of the color blind I have found out
of the color blind I have found out about the island because I was talking
about the island because I was talking
about the island because I was talking on Belgium radio and about like how
on Belgium radio and about like how
on Belgium radio and about like how genetics influence people’s life how
genetics influence people’s life how
genetics influence people’s life how this inspires me and someone wrote me an
this inspires me and someone wrote me an
this inspires me and someone wrote me an email saying I have a story for you and
email saying I have a story for you and
email saying I have a story for you and that’s how the story found me sometimes
that’s how the story found me sometimes
that’s how the story found me sometimes an idea sparks your mind and Lee
an idea sparks your mind and Lee
an idea sparks your mind and Lee angers in the back of your head glowing
angers in the back of your head glowing
angers in the back of your head glowing like a shiny thought Sparkle and that’s
like a shiny thought Sparkle and that’s
like a shiny thought Sparkle and that’s how ping alap came to me I was told the
how ping alap came to me I was told the
how ping alap came to me I was told the island tale and instantly felt I had to
island tale and instantly felt I had to
island tale and instantly felt I had to plug the shooting star out of the sky
plug the shooting star out of the sky
plug the shooting star out of the sky hold on to it care for it and let it
hold on to it care for it and let it
hold on to it care for it and let it guide me in oliver sexes book he
guide me in oliver sexes book he
guide me in oliver sexes book he describes the two communities in pinga
describes the two communities in pinga
describes the two communities in pinga lap and pompay to Micronesian islands
lap and pompay to Micronesian islands
lap and pompay to Micronesian islands where there’s an extremely high
where there’s an extremely high
where there’s an extremely high percentage of achromatopsia
percentage of achromatopsia
percentage of achromatopsia achromatopsia is a very rare genetic
achromatopsia is a very rare genetic
achromatopsia is a very rare genetic condition that causes complete color
condition that causes complete color
condition that causes complete color blindness
blindness
blindness I named my photo book the island of the
I named my photo book the island of the
I named my photo book the island of the color blind in reference of his work my
color blind in reference of his work my
color blind in reference of his work my project the island of the colorblind
project the island of the colorblind
project the island of the colorblind consists consists of three types of
consists consists of three types of
consists consists of three types of images as achromatopsia consists of
images as achromatopsia consists of
images as achromatopsia consists of three characteristics extreme light
three characteristics extreme light
three characteristics extreme light sensitivity poor vision and the complete
sensitivity poor vision and the complete
sensitivity poor vision and the complete inability to distinguish color a krumitz
inability to distinguish color a krumitz
inability to distinguish color a krumitz in Micronesia they don’t have access to
in Micronesia they don’t have access to
in Micronesia they don’t have access to means of aid like sunglasses or tinted
means of aid like sunglasses or tinted
means of aid like sunglasses or tinted lenses so they deal with their limited
lenses so they deal with their limited
lenses so they deal with their limited vision by blinking and squinting their
vision by blinking and squinting their
vision by blinking and squinting their eyes shielding their face and
eyes shielding their face and
eyes shielding their face and positioning themselves according to
positioning themselves according to
positioning themselves according to light sources they’re dazzled by
light sources they’re dazzled by
light sources they’re dazzled by daylight blinded by sunlight the world
daylight blinded by sunlight the world
daylight blinded by sunlight the world appears to them as a burned-out image an
appears to them as a burned-out image an
appears to them as a burned-out image an overexposed picture I worked with a
overexposed picture I worked with a
overexposed picture I worked with a camera converted to infrared
camera converted to infrared
camera converted to infrared I shot images and infrared to rediscover
I shot images and infrared to rediscover
I shot images and infrared to rediscover color while shooting to reinvent this
color while shooting to reinvent this
color while shooting to reinvent this idea of color to metaphorically create
idea of color to metaphorically create
idea of color to metaphorically create an imaginary image of what the world
an imaginary image of what the world
an imaginary image of what the world could look like inside a colorblind mind
could look like inside a colorblind mind
could look like inside a colorblind mind if you can’t see color everything is
if you can’t see color everything is
if you can’t see color everything is possible in this photo project I also
possible in this photo project I also
possible in this photo project I also worked with photo paintings and normal
worked with photo paintings and normal
worked with photo paintings and normal black and white images I want to invite
black and white images I want to invite
black and white images I want to invite you to embrace this richness of vision
you to embrace this richness of vision
you to embrace this richness of vision what do you see if someone blushes what
what do you see if someone blushes what
what do you see if someone blushes what if you only saw the world in just one
if you only saw the world in just one
if you only saw the world in just one color
color
color what if green could be purple and purple
what if green could be purple and purple
what if green could be purple and purple could be red and red could be orange and
could be red and red could be orange and
could be red and red could be orange and orange could be
orange could be
orange could be a world without color you smell you feel
a world without color you smell you feel
a world without color you smell you feel you know can you dream in color when you
you know can you dream in color when you
you know can you dream in color when you live in black and white what would you
live in black and white what would you
live in black and white what would you miss the most I invited the colorblind
miss the most I invited the colorblind
miss the most I invited the colorblind people to bring color back into my black
people to bring color back into my black
people to bring color back into my black and white images to paint straight onto
and white images to paint straight onto
and white images to paint straight onto the photos it was often a very intimate
the photos it was often a very intimate
the photos it was often a very intimate experience for them as it brought them
experience for them as it brought them
experience for them as it brought them back to the very first moment they were
back to the very first moment they were
back to the very first moment they were confronted with the fact they couldn’t
confronted with the fact they couldn’t
confronted with the fact they couldn’t see color when in school they would draw
see color when in school they would draw
see color when in school they would draw or paint and their teacher would point
or paint and their teacher would point
or paint and their teacher would point out they weren’t using the right colors
out they weren’t using the right colors
out they weren’t using the right colors the Sun isn’t purple it’s yellow one of
the Sun isn’t purple it’s yellow one of
the Sun isn’t purple it’s yellow one of the people I worked with described his
the people I worked with described his
the people I worked with described his childhood experience to me how when his
childhood experience to me how when his
childhood experience to me how when his teachers and his parents is covered they
teachers and his parents is covered they
teachers and his parents is covered they wouldn’t be able to teach him color they
wouldn’t be able to teach him color they
wouldn’t be able to teach him color they came up with the idea of labeling his
came up with the idea of labeling his
came up with the idea of labeling his colored pencils so as soon as he was old
colored pencils so as soon as he was old
colored pencils so as soon as he was old enough to read he could actually color
enough to read he could actually color
enough to read he could actually color their son yellow instead of purple at
their son yellow instead of purple at
their son yellow instead of purple at first he felt very proud but afterwards
first he felt very proud but afterwards
first he felt very proud but afterwards he realized what did it really matter
he realized what did it really matter
he realized what did it really matter what’s wrong with a purple son
what’s wrong with a purple son
what’s wrong with a purple son let’s open up to new possibilities new
let’s open up to new possibilities new
let’s open up to new possibilities new perspectives new ways of seeing why not
perspectives new ways of seeing why not
perspectives new ways of seeing why not why not have purple rain’ blue velvet
why not have purple rain’ blue velvet
why not have purple rain’ blue velvet back to black golden brown things are in
back to black golden brown things are in
back to black golden brown things are in black and white but what if they
black and white but what if they
black and white but what if they literally were how would you color the
literally were how would you color the
literally were how would you color the world with your mind if you could
world with your mind if you could
world with your mind if you could repaint it color is just a word to those
repaint it color is just a word to those
repaint it color is just a word to those who cannot see it we bring ideas to life
who cannot see it we bring ideas to life
who cannot see it we bring ideas to life we give IDs meaning by the words we use
we give IDs meaning by the words we use
we give IDs meaning by the words we use this is the power of words but what if
this is the power of words but what if
this is the power of words but what if color is just a word I once heard a
color is just a word I once heard a
color is just a word I once heard a story of a little boy who told his mom
story of a little boy who told his mom
story of a little boy who told his mom he needed to have the exact same haircut
he needed to have the exact same haircut
he needed to have the exact same haircut as his best friend he got all excited by
as his best friend he got all excited by
as his best friend he got all excited by this idea of then going to school the
this idea of then going to school the
this idea of then going to school the next morning and his teacher wouldn’t be
next morning and his teacher wouldn’t be
next morning and his teacher wouldn’t be able to tell him and his best buddy
able to tell him and his best buddy
able to tell him and his best buddy apart because of their identical haircut
apart because of their identical haircut
apart because of their identical haircut he didn’t realize he had a different
he didn’t realize he had a different
he didn’t realize he had a different skin color than his best friend he
skin color than his best friend he
skin color than his best friend he wasn’t distracted or diverted by color
wasn’t distracted or diverted by color
wasn’t distracted or diverted by color he wasn’t conditioned
he wasn’t conditioned
he wasn’t conditioned to see the differences and therefore he
to see the differences and therefore he
to see the differences and therefore he didn’t even see them he just saw things
didn’t even see them he just saw things
didn’t even see them he just saw things for what they were he saw him for what
for what they were he saw him for what
for what they were he saw him for what he was his best friend an equal soul it
he was his best friend an equal soul it
he was his best friend an equal soul it seems like when I worked with the people
seems like when I worked with the people
seems like when I worked with the people with achromatopsia they felt so
with achromatopsia they felt so
with achromatopsia they felt so vulnerable to paint to not have control
vulnerable to paint to not have control
vulnerable to paint to not have control over color to let go of something they
over color to let go of something they
over color to let go of something they tried so badly to control you try to
tried so badly to control you try to
tried so badly to control you try to teach yourself something you might not
teach yourself something you might not
teach yourself something you might not be able to learn
be able to learn
be able to learn they seemed conditioned to see the world
they seemed conditioned to see the world
they seemed conditioned to see the world as we color seeing people see it this is
as we color seeing people see it this is
as we color seeing people see it this is a call to embrace the diversity of
a call to embrace the diversity of
a call to embrace the diversity of seeing and this diversity of being it
seeing and this diversity of being it
seeing and this diversity of being it seems inherent to people to fear change
seems inherent to people to fear change
seems inherent to people to fear change yet to live in a world that is
yet to live in a world that is
yet to live in a world that is constantly changing the next image
constantly changing the next image
constantly changing the next image you’ll see is the image of the island
you’ll see is the image of the island
you’ll see is the image of the island this sums it all up for me this tropical
this sums it all up for me this tropical
this sums it all up for me this tropical backdrop almost like a surreal painting
backdrop almost like a surreal painting
backdrop almost like a surreal painting of bubblegum pink trees and deep ocean
of bubblegum pink trees and deep ocean
of bubblegum pink trees and deep ocean blue this boat full of Penelope’s
blue this boat full of Penelope’s
blue this boat full of Penelope’s colorblind represents people setting off
colorblind represents people setting off
colorblind represents people setting off for a better future these Islanders
for a better future these Islanders
for a better future these Islanders amongst many others living in a place
amongst many others living in a place
amongst many others living in a place for nerble to the water exposed to the
for nerble to the water exposed to the
for nerble to the water exposed to the sea will live to be a generation of
sea will live to be a generation of
sea will live to be a generation of environmental refugees as a sea levels
environmental refugees as a sea levels
environmental refugees as a sea levels keep rising and this matter becomes more
keep rising and this matter becomes more
keep rising and this matter becomes more and more pressing this is a real threat
and more pressing this is a real threat
and more pressing this is a real threat for people I love I came to deeply love
for people I love I came to deeply love
for people I love I came to deeply love this blinking and squinting eyed
this blinking and squinting eyed
this blinking and squinting eyed community they welcomed me with flowers
community they welcomed me with flowers
community they welcomed me with flowers treated me like a princess they helped
treated me like a princess they helped
treated me like a princess they helped me experience experience the island in
me experience experience the island in
me experience experience the island in every possible way they made me drink
every possible way they made me drink
every possible way they made me drink fresh coconut and kava made of the
fresh coconut and kava made of the
fresh coconut and kava made of the pounded Sokka root cinnamon bark tea
pounded Sokka root cinnamon bark tea
pounded Sokka root cinnamon bark tea they made me chew the beetle nut and eat
they made me chew the beetle nut and eat
they made me chew the beetle nut and eat dog meat
dog meat
dog meat I was declared part of the family many
I was declared part of the family many
I was declared part of the family many people are forced to undertake
people are forced to undertake
people are forced to undertake life-threatening journeys they have to
life-threatening journeys they have to
life-threatening journeys they have to leave everything they know behind to
leave everything they know behind to
leave everything they know behind to then end up in a place where they’re
then end up in a place where they’re
then end up in a place where they’re unwelcome I’m extremely lucky because I
unwelcome I’m extremely lucky because I
unwelcome I’m extremely lucky because I have the freedom of choice I choose to
have the freedom of choice I choose to
have the freedom of choice I choose to travel I choose to go where I go and to
travel I choose to go where I go and to
travel I choose to go where I go and to be where I am not everyone has this
be where I am not everyone has this
be where I am not everyone has this luxury let’s focus on color
luxury let’s focus on color
luxury let’s focus on color might make the world a more colorful
might make the world a more colorful
might make the world a more colorful place I’d like to end with this quote by
place I’d like to end with this quote by
place I’d like to end with this quote by my Micronesian uncle at Albert welcome
my Micronesian uncle at Albert welcome
my Micronesian uncle at Albert welcome to the family once and for all united we
to the family once and for all united we
to the family once and for all united we stand divided we fall
stand divided we fall
stand divided we fall thank you or to say it in Penelope’s
thank you or to say it in Penelope’s
thank you or to say it in Penelope’s gallon
gallon
gallon [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
”
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