take in the moment you’re real my my life started here in Southampton but my
life started here in Southampton but my
life started here in Southampton but my parents are both northerners and I’m a
parents are both northerners and I’m a
parents are both northerners and I’m a southerner by accident my dad is from
southerner by accident my dad is from
southerner by accident my dad is from the Northeast my mum’s from the
the Northeast my mum’s from the
the Northeast my mum’s from the northwest
northwest
northwest and so I’ve always thought that maybe
and so I’ve always thought that maybe
and so I’ve always thought that maybe that was something to do with my slight
that was something to do with my slight
that was something to do with my slight lack of understanding of myself in this
lack of understanding of myself in this
lack of understanding of myself in this place I’m going to talk about how those
place I’m going to talk about how those
place I’m going to talk about how those reflections about myself and my journey
reflections about myself and my journey
reflections about myself and my journey exploring my own self-identity is I
exploring my own self-identity is I
exploring my own self-identity is I think running along parallel lines with
think running along parallel lines with
think running along parallel lines with my exploration with artistic colleagues
my exploration with artistic colleagues
my exploration with artistic colleagues into my city sense of self I think my
into my city sense of self I think my
into my city sense of self I think my city is very disconnected from its
city is very disconnected from its
city is very disconnected from its artists and I think that’s a problem
artists and I think that’s a problem
artists and I think that’s a problem that I want to address my mother was
that I want to address my mother was
that I want to address my mother was persuaded to leave her three children
persuaded to leave her three children
persuaded to leave her three children when I was about seven and make her way
when I was about seven and make her way
when I was about seven and make her way alone as an actor she never really
alone as an actor she never really
alone as an actor she never really recovered from the guilt of that choice
recovered from the guilt of that choice
recovered from the guilt of that choice was it a choice or was she persuaded by
was it a choice or was she persuaded by
was it a choice or was she persuaded by my father and the she then became an
my father and the she then became an
my father and the she then became an alcoholic through her life and basically
alcoholic through her life and basically
alcoholic through her life and basically committed the long slow suicide that
committed the long slow suicide that
committed the long slow suicide that alcoholics do until she died at the age
alcoholics do until she died at the age
alcoholics do until she died at the age of 57
of 57
of 57 my dad died four years ago my dad was a
my dad died four years ago my dad was a
my dad died four years ago my dad was a powerful and charismatic man who brought
powerful and charismatic man who brought
powerful and charismatic man who brought me up he was a very controlling man now
me up he was a very controlling man now
me up he was a very controlling man now I can see that now that he’s not here
I can see that now that he’s not here
I can see that now that he’s not here anymore he set up a very successful
anymore he set up a very successful
anymore he set up a very successful business here in Southampton and I
business here in Southampton and I
business here in Southampton and I worked alongside him in the world of
worked alongside him in the world of
worked alongside him in the world of entertainment for almost ten years he
entertainment for almost ten years he
entertainment for almost ten years he then sold that business and moved with
then sold that business and moved with
then sold that business and moved with his third wife to retirement in the
his third wife to retirement in the
his third wife to retirement in the South of France
South of France
South of France where he died on the operating table
where he died on the operating table
where he died on the operating table during a heart operation just four years
during a heart operation just four years
during a heart operation just four years ago it wasn’t until I became an orphan
ago it wasn’t until I became an orphan
ago it wasn’t until I became an orphan that I understood that the burden of
that I understood that the burden of
that I understood that the burden of these fractured relationships with these
these fractured relationships with these
these fractured relationships with these two people who were never meant to be
two people who were never meant to be
two people who were never meant to be parents it was a shotgun wedding
parents it was a shotgun wedding
parents it was a shotgun wedding had had on my life and that I really had
had had on my life and that I really had
had had on my life and that I really had no sense of who I was
no sense of who I was
no sense of who I was unless it was in relationship to these
unless it was in relationship to these
unless it was in relationship to these two people so about that time I sold the
two people so about that time I sold the
two people so about that time I sold the house I should have sold years before
house I should have sold years before
house I should have sold years before where I brought up two children
where I brought up two children
where I brought up two children single-handed I moved his houseboat and
single-handed I moved his houseboat and
single-handed I moved his houseboat and I started pursuing life as an artist
I started pursuing life as an artist
I started pursuing life as an artist alongside of this my city like many
alongside of this my city like many
alongside of this my city like many other cities is exploring culture as a
other cities is exploring culture as a
other cities is exploring culture as a means of Economic Development slightly
means of Economic Development slightly
means of Economic Development slightly sticks in my mouth so even there to even
sticks in my mouth so even there to even
sticks in my mouth so even there to even think about that but in those
think about that but in those
think about that but in those conversations I started hearing my city
conversations I started hearing my city
conversations I started hearing my city once again revisiting this idea that it
once again revisiting this idea that it
once again revisiting this idea that it doesn’t know who it is that it has no
doesn’t know who it is that it has no
doesn’t know who it is that it has no soul
soul
soul it has no sense of identity the cultural
it has no sense of identity the cultural
it has no sense of identity the cultural work that’s going on here is being
work that’s going on here is being
work that’s going on here is being described as a Renaissance as if this
described as a Renaissance as if this
described as a Renaissance as if this was some sort of barren land from which
was some sort of barren land from which
was some sort of barren land from which culture needed to be applied to us I
culture needed to be applied to us I
culture needed to be applied to us I felt very passionately that that wasn’t
felt very passionately that that wasn’t
felt very passionately that that wasn’t an accurate reflection of my city that
an accurate reflection of my city that
an accurate reflection of my city that wasn’t anything to do with the sense of
wasn’t anything to do with the sense of
wasn’t anything to do with the sense of my burgeoning sense of my city
my burgeoning sense of my city
my burgeoning sense of my city and so alongside applying my artistic
and so alongside applying my artistic
and so alongside applying my artistic gaze to myself I’ve been applying it to
gaze to myself I’ve been applying it to
gaze to myself I’ve been applying it to my city at the same time
my city at the same time
my city at the same time so what do artists do artists hold up
so what do artists do artists hold up
so what do artists do artists hold up the mirror don’t they that’s what we say
the mirror don’t they that’s what we say
the mirror don’t they that’s what we say I can probably count on the fingers of
I can probably count on the fingers of
I can probably count on the fingers of one hand the number of times I looked at
one hand the number of times I looked at
one hand the number of times I looked at myself in a mirror when I was grown up
myself in a mirror when I was grown up
myself in a mirror when I was grown up and it was only when I challenged myself
and it was only when I challenged myself
and it was only when I challenged myself to do that not that long ago that I
to do that not that long ago that I
to do that not that long ago that I realized that by not looking at myself I
realized that by not looking at myself I
realized that by not looking at myself I managed to deny a whole set of pain and
managed to deny a whole set of pain and
managed to deny a whole set of pain and frustration and confusion that I was
frustration and confusion that I was
frustration and confusion that I was going through I can remember that I lost
going through I can remember that I lost
going through I can remember that I lost the confidence to describe myself as a
the confidence to describe myself as a
the confidence to describe myself as a redhead
redhead
redhead despite the fact that I have freckles
despite the fact that I have freckles
despite the fact that I have freckles and sunburned and ginger hair because I
and sunburned and ginger hair because I
and sunburned and ginger hair because I didn’t look at it it faded for me I
didn’t look at it it faded for me I
didn’t look at it it faded for me I didn’t have a grasp of it anymore so
didn’t have a grasp of it anymore so
didn’t have a grasp of it anymore so when ginger Pride Day was announced
when ginger Pride Day was announced
when ginger Pride Day was announced didn’t occur to me that I should go and
didn’t occur to me that I should go and
didn’t occur to me that I should go and take part in that fund that that was my
take part in that fund that that was my
take part in that fund that that was my clan I wasn’t one of them but
clan I wasn’t one of them but
clan I wasn’t one of them but I am its so having thought that about
I am its so having thought that about
I am its so having thought that about literally looking in the mirror myself I
literally looking in the mirror myself I
literally looking in the mirror myself I thought so what sense does my city look
thought so what sense does my city look
thought so what sense does my city look at itself and I started to look at the
at itself and I started to look at the
at itself and I started to look at the art that has been made about my city and
art that has been made about my city and
art that has been made about my city and I think I may have uncovered something
I think I may have uncovered something
I think I may have uncovered something of course it’s a joy now because there
of course it’s a joy now because there
of course it’s a joy now because there are all these wonderful databases that
are all these wonderful databases that
are all these wonderful databases that we can look at of nationally important
we can look at of nationally important
we can look at of nationally important art which is all available to us online
art which is all available to us online
art which is all available to us online so it’s quite easy to search and see the
so it’s quite easy to search and see the
so it’s quite easy to search and see the important paintings about particular
important paintings about particular
important paintings about particular subjects are indeed places and in the
subjects are indeed places and in the
subjects are indeed places and in the nineteenth century there are tons of
nineteenth century there are tons of
nineteenth century there are tons of beautiful pictures of of our streets of
beautiful pictures of of our streets of
beautiful pictures of of our streets of our parks of ships of cranes and it all
our parks of ships of cranes and it all
our parks of ships of cranes and it all kind of stops and it stops I wonder if
kind of stops and it stops I wonder if
kind of stops and it stops I wonder if anybody who can guess the date about
anybody who can guess the date about
anybody who can guess the date about which it stops it stops around about
which it stops it stops around about
which it stops it stops around about 1912 local people will know the
1912 local people will know the
1912 local people will know the significance of that date that’s the
significance of that date that’s the
significance of that date that’s the date the Titanic went down it’s almost
date the Titanic went down it’s almost
date the Titanic went down it’s almost as if our artistic reflection upon
as if our artistic reflection upon
as if our artistic reflection upon ourselves kind of stopped at that moment
ourselves kind of stopped at that moment
ourselves kind of stopped at that moment the only picture as a as a as a
the only picture as a as a as a
the only picture as a as a as a interested engaged artistic person
interested engaged artistic person
interested engaged artistic person myself that I am aware of of my city is
myself that I am aware of of my city is
myself that I am aware of of my city is a painting by Lowry of the floating
a painting by Lowry of the floating
a painting by Lowry of the floating bridge which some of you may know but I
bridge which some of you may know but I
bridge which some of you may know but I think it’s very interesting that in a
think it’s very interesting that in a
think it’s very interesting that in a big thriving important city with an art
big thriving important city with an art
big thriving important city with an art gallery that’s considered to be
gallery that’s considered to be
gallery that’s considered to be nationally important that artists are
nationally important that artists are
nationally important that artists are not have not been reflecting on the city
not have not been reflecting on the city
not have not been reflecting on the city no wonder we don’t have a sense of who
no wonder we don’t have a sense of who
no wonder we don’t have a sense of who we are because artists are not making
we are because artists are not making
we are because artists are not making the contribution or perhaps artists are
the contribution or perhaps artists are
the contribution or perhaps artists are not being allowed to make that
not being allowed to make that
not being allowed to make that contribution what we had to do then
contribution what we had to do then
contribution what we had to do then instead of artists making this
instead of artists making this
instead of artists making this reflection for us we’ve had to cobble
reflection for us we’ve had to cobble
reflection for us we’ve had to cobble together an identity out of what we had
together an identity out of what we had
together an identity out of what we had and what we had largely was shipping
and what we had largely was shipping
and what we had largely was shipping posters now I will agree that there are
posters now I will agree that there are
posters now I will agree that there are fabulous pieces of graphic design and
fabulous pieces of graphic design and
fabulous pieces of graphic design and many of them are considered works of art
many of them are considered works of art
many of them are considered works of art but they are sailing they are selling
but they are sailing they are selling
but they are sailing they are selling designs this is not an artistic
designs this is not an artistic
designs this is not an artistic reflection this is Chumlee trying to
reflection this is Chumlee trying to
reflection this is Chumlee trying to flog you a cruise to the Bahamas or
flog you a cruise to the Bahamas or
flog you a cruise to the Bahamas or whatever it is but somehow this has fed
whatever it is but somehow this has fed
whatever it is but somehow this has fed into a sense of ourselves as being a
into a sense of ourselves as being a
into a sense of ourselves as being a maritime City this artist is here to
maritime City this artist is here to
maritime City this artist is here to tell you that I don’t believe we are
tell you that I don’t believe we are
tell you that I don’t believe we are a maritime City I could do a four-hour
a maritime City I could do a four-hour
a maritime City I could do a four-hour presentation about that thought and come
presentation about that thought and come
presentation about that thought and come and talk to me in the interval if you’re
and talk to me in the interval if you’re
and talk to me in the interval if you’re interested in it but I’m not the first
interested in it but I’m not the first
interested in it but I’m not the first person to have thought it there was some
person to have thought it there was some
person to have thought it there was some interesting work that went on into the
interesting work that went on into the
interesting work that went on into the labor movement in Southampton if you
labor movement in Southampton if you
labor movement in Southampton if you think about the thriving vibrant labor
think about the thriving vibrant labor
think about the thriving vibrant labor movement in the Liverpool docks and in
movement in the Liverpool docks and in
movement in the Liverpool docks and in the London Docks
the London Docks
the London Docks Southampton doesn’t have quite that
Southampton doesn’t have quite that
Southampton doesn’t have quite that sense of a of a Southampton docker in
sense of a of a Southampton docker in
sense of a of a Southampton docker in the docks and in that work they also
the docks and in that work they also
the docks and in that work they also described us as a port under sufferance
described us as a port under sufferance
described us as a port under sufferance the only reason we report is because the
the only reason we report is because the
the only reason we report is because the water happens to be here actually what
water happens to be here actually what
water happens to be here actually what Southampton is about is trade we don’t
Southampton is about is trade we don’t
Southampton is about is trade we don’t own the chips we don’t we aren’t the
own the chips we don’t we aren’t the
own the chips we don’t we aren’t the seafarers Jesus we don’t even own the
seafarers Jesus we don’t even own the
seafarers Jesus we don’t even own the docks anymore we gave away the docks in
docks anymore we gave away the docks in
docks anymore we gave away the docks in about I believe 1835 when we allowed the
about I believe 1835 when we allowed the
about I believe 1835 when we allowed the London and Southampton as it was called
London and Southampton as it was called
London and Southampton as it was called Railway Company to develop our docks
Railway Company to develop our docks
Railway Company to develop our docks there were voices at that time that said
there were voices at that time that said
there were voices at that time that said but we will lose control of our city but
but we will lose control of our city but
but we will lose control of our city but the money won the London and Southampton
the money won the London and Southampton
the money won the London and Southampton Railway Company was formed they made
Railway Company was formed they made
Railway Company was formed they made those docks and suddenly they’re not
those docks and suddenly they’re not
those docks and suddenly they’re not ours anymore
ours anymore
ours anymore now to the point where we can’t even see
now to the point where we can’t even see
now to the point where we can’t even see our water mostly and yet Southampton
our water mostly and yet Southampton
our water mostly and yet Southampton went on so in holding up a mirror
went on so in holding up a mirror
went on so in holding up a mirror I think the artistic the artists mind
I think the artistic the artists mind
I think the artistic the artists mind has something to contribute to these
has something to contribute to these
has something to contribute to these thoughts about identity together with
thoughts about identity together with
thoughts about identity together with other artists I’ve started a series of
other artists I’ve started a series of
other artists I’ve started a series of talks which were a little bit like this
talks which were a little bit like this
talks which were a little bit like this except there’s two of us on the stage
except there’s two of us on the stage
except there’s two of us on the stage where we are inviting interesting people
where we are inviting interesting people
where we are inviting interesting people from South Hamptons creative communities
from South Hamptons creative communities
from South Hamptons creative communities to come on stage and be interviewed by
to come on stage and be interviewed by
to come on stage and be interviewed by me to talk about their work no we did
me to talk about their work no we did
me to talk about their work no we did this is for two reasons this mirror
this is for two reasons this mirror
this is for two reasons this mirror holding up one is to call foul on the
holding up one is to call foul on the
holding up one is to call foul on the idea that this is a culture l’espace
idea that this is a culture l’espace
idea that this is a culture l’espace there is astonishing work
there is astonishing work
there is astonishing work I talked to Christian Drake recently who
I talked to Christian Drake recently who
I talked to Christian Drake recently who told me about amazing artistic work
told me about amazing artistic work
told me about amazing artistic work that’s going on with young offenders
that’s going on with young offenders
that’s going on with young offenders that’s being showcased it showcased at
that’s being showcased it showcased at
that’s being showcased it showcased at the Tate Gallery in early in the year
the Tate Gallery in early in the year
the Tate Gallery in early in the year this summer there was a pan-european
this summer there was a pan-european
this summer there was a pan-european project where artists all came together
project where artists all came together
project where artists all came together and made some astonishing work which was
and made some astonishing work which was
and made some astonishing work which was then in the showcase gallery there is
then in the showcase gallery there is
then in the showcase gallery there is work going on investing
work going on investing
work going on investing getting tools to draw with light and we
getting tools to draw with light and we
getting tools to draw with light and we saw an example of that in the city last
saw an example of that in the city last
saw an example of that in the city last week so these are not there is no need
week so these are not there is no need
week so these are not there is no need to pattern eyes ourselves about the
to pattern eyes ourselves about the
to pattern eyes ourselves about the quality and importance of the cultural
quality and importance of the cultural
quality and importance of the cultural work that’s going on here and so we hope
work that’s going on here and so we hope
work that’s going on here and so we hope to shine a light on that but secondly we
to shine a light on that but secondly we
to shine a light on that but secondly we are asking these creative people to try
are asking these creative people to try
are asking these creative people to try and describe for us the Southampton us
and describe for us the Southampton us
and describe for us the Southampton us of their work now that’s a delicate
of their work now that’s a delicate
of their work now that’s a delicate business those are delicate delicate
business those are delicate delicate
business those are delicate delicate threads that we are pulling out and
threads that we are pulling out and
threads that we are pulling out and trying to pull together and that may be
trying to pull together and that may be
trying to pull together and that may be tortured analogy we may be able to
tortured analogy we may be able to
tortured analogy we may be able to create some sort of tapestry of of what
create some sort of tapestry of of what
create some sort of tapestry of of what that point of view is I’ve had 11 of
that point of view is I’ve had 11 of
that point of view is I’ve had 11 of these conversations so far we’re hoping
these conversations so far we’re hoping
these conversations so far we’re hoping to make some of them available online as
to make some of them available online as
to make some of them available online as we go forward so if that sort of thing
we go forward so if that sort of thing
we go forward so if that sort of thing interests you you may be able to look at
interests you you may be able to look at
interests you you may be able to look at them so that is the artists contribution
them so that is the artists contribution
them so that is the artists contribution to holding up this mirror as those of
to holding up this mirror as those of
to holding up this mirror as those of you who’ve been through your own mix up
you who’ve been through your own mix up
you who’ve been through your own mix up midlife crisis will no exploration of
midlife crisis will no exploration of
midlife crisis will no exploration of self-identity sometimes it’s very
self-identity sometimes it’s very
self-identity sometimes it’s very painful and very slow but also sometimes
painful and very slow but also sometimes
painful and very slow but also sometimes happens in a flash I have one of those
happens in a flash I have one of those
happens in a flash I have one of those about coming here today I got into an
about coming here today I got into an
about coming here today I got into an existential panic about what I was going
existential panic about what I was going
existential panic about what I was going to wear to talk to you today who did you
to wear to talk to you today who did you
to wear to talk to you today who did you need me to be what persona did I need to
need me to be what persona did I need to
need me to be what persona did I need to adopt in order to be taken seriously by
adopt in order to be taken seriously by
adopt in order to be taken seriously by you in order to be worthy of being here
you in order to be worthy of being here
you in order to be worthy of being here and it was in a flash when I suddenly
and it was in a flash when I suddenly
and it was in a flash when I suddenly realized that what I should wear here’s
realized that what I should wear here’s
realized that what I should wear here’s what I always wear although in fact it’s
what I always wear although in fact it’s
what I always wear although in fact it’s my birthday today so I bought myself a
my birthday today so I bought myself a
my birthday today so I bought myself a new pair of dungarees
and so in that question of examining the
and so in that question of examining the self in some senses we just need to be
self in some senses we just need to be
self in some senses we just need to be still and listen to who we are I think
still and listen to who we are I think
still and listen to who we are I think possibly my sisters in the audience
possibly my sisters in the audience
possibly my sisters in the audience might have some sense of how challenging
might have some sense of how challenging
might have some sense of how challenging that can be for women particularly who
that can be for women particularly who
that can be for women particularly who are who the world wants us to be my
are who the world wants us to be my
are who the world wants us to be my flash of inspiration about our cities
flash of inspiration about our cities
flash of inspiration about our cities identity came when I was having a
identity came when I was having a
identity came when I was having a fascinating conversation with dr. Gerald
fascinating conversation with dr. Gerald
fascinating conversation with dr. Gerald Butler Jarrell amongst many other
Butler Jarrell amongst many other
Butler Jarrell amongst many other distinguished things is a city tour
distinguished things is a city tour
distinguished things is a city tour guide and she happened to mention that
guide and she happened to mention that
guide and she happened to mention that the the records and the detailed
the the records and the detailed
the the records and the detailed archives that Southampton has about life
archives that Southampton has about life
archives that Southampton has about life in our in the town as it was then in the
in our in the town as it was then in the
in our in the town as it was then in the medieval period are certainly the most
medieval period are certainly the most
medieval period are certainly the most detailed in England possibly the most
detailed in England possibly the most
detailed in England possibly the most significant in Europe and maybe even the
significant in Europe and maybe even the
significant in Europe and maybe even the world
world
world I’m 52 I had no idea absolutely no idea
I’m 52 I had no idea absolutely no idea
I’m 52 I had no idea absolutely no idea these documents are crumbling old papers
these documents are crumbling old papers
these documents are crumbling old papers they’re written in Latin and French and
they’re written in Latin and French and
they’re written in Latin and French and spidery writing it’s really hard to find
spidery writing it’s really hard to find
spidery writing it’s really hard to find them but and people have started to just
them but and people have started to just
them but and people have started to just scratch the surface and boom there it
scratch the surface and boom there it
scratch the surface and boom there it was my city talks about its walls
was my city talks about its walls
was my city talks about its walls who cares about walls unless you are
who cares about walls unless you are
who cares about walls unless you are somebody who studies stonework and I’m
somebody who studies stonework and I’m
somebody who studies stonework and I’m sure it’s important and interesting work
sure it’s important and interesting work
sure it’s important and interesting work if that floats your boat but I simply
if that floats your boat but I simply
if that floats your boat but I simply don’t care about walls what I’m
don’t care about walls what I’m
don’t care about walls what I’m interested in is the stories that Gerald
interested in is the stories that Gerald
interested in is the stories that Gerald told me of the guild of women and with a
told me of the guild of women and with a
told me of the guild of women and with a wall Packers in the city because they
wall Packers in the city because they
wall Packers in the city because they had the small hands that could put the
had the small hands that could put the
had the small hands that could put the wool into the bags that were called
wool into the bags that were called
wool into the bags that were called balanced representing our relationship
balanced representing our relationship
balanced representing our relationship with the French now in the French
with the French now in the French
with the French now in the French language that they were overseen by the
language that they were overseen by the
language that they were overseen by the warden who is called Elizabeth Burgess
warden who is called Elizabeth Burgess
warden who is called Elizabeth Burgess tiny little story and suddenly my
tiny little story and suddenly my
tiny little story and suddenly my medieval city is alive to me they reach
medieval city is alive to me they reach
medieval city is alive to me they reach out through time to me
out through time to me
out through time to me they are me and I am them that’s who we
they are me and I am them that’s who we
they are me and I am them that’s who we are
are
are we are an ancient city and although
we are an ancient city and although
we are an ancient city and although that’s something that gets talked about
that’s something that gets talked about
that’s something that gets talked about in the context of York
in the context of York
in the context of York perhaps London kept us on down in France
perhaps London kept us on down in France
perhaps London kept us on down in France which I know very well the ancientness
which I know very well the ancientness
which I know very well the ancientness is a it’s a vital part of who they are
is a it’s a vital part of who they are
is a it’s a vital part of who they are but it’s not something we ever talk
but it’s not something we ever talk
but it’s not something we ever talk about we talk about walls good you’re
about we talk about walls good you’re
about we talk about walls good you’re huffing yeah you think it’s ridiculous
huffing yeah you think it’s ridiculous
huffing yeah you think it’s ridiculous as well so sometimes that self analysis
as well so sometimes that self analysis
as well so sometimes that self analysis comes in flashes but sometimes it is
comes in flashes but sometimes it is
comes in flashes but sometimes it is slow and painful and torturous and it
slow and painful and torturous and it
slow and painful and torturous and it can involve letting go of ideas about
can involve letting go of ideas about
can involve letting go of ideas about ourselves that we’ve hung on to for a
ourselves that we’ve hung on to for a
ourselves that we’ve hung on to for a long time and it can involve recognizing
long time and it can involve recognizing
long time and it can involve recognizing some uncomfortable truths about
some uncomfortable truths about
some uncomfortable truths about ourselves I find it very frustrating
ourselves I find it very frustrating
ourselves I find it very frustrating that the depths of poverty that exists
that the depths of poverty that exists
that the depths of poverty that exists in our city are never really
in our city are never really
in our city are never really acknowledged the way I described it when
acknowledged the way I described it when
acknowledged the way I described it when I say it to people I say it’s London
I say it to people I say it’s London
I say it to people I say it’s London poverty London really here yes
poverty London really here yes
poverty London really here yes London poverty and yet that’s not
London poverty and yet that’s not
London poverty and yet that’s not something I think that’s well understood
something I think that’s well understood
something I think that’s well understood about ourselves I have many many more
about ourselves I have many many more
about ourselves I have many many more examples I could bang on for hours but I
examples I could bang on for hours but I
examples I could bang on for hours but I think it takes I think what artists
think it takes I think what artists
think it takes I think what artists bring to thinking this through is a is a
bring to thinking this through is a is a
bring to thinking this through is a is a way of looking at things that can help
way of looking at things that can help
way of looking at things that can help with this question of identity so the
with this question of identity so the
with this question of identity so the artists are getting their together
artists are getting their together
artists are getting their together I’m hoping I’m allowed to say that on a
I’m hoping I’m allowed to say that on a
I’m hoping I’m allowed to say that on a TED stage
TED stage
TED stage we are organizing and we are trying to
we are organizing and we are trying to
we are organizing and we are trying to come together to offer a hive mind to
come together to offer a hive mind to
come together to offer a hive mind to the city to help investigate these
the city to help investigate these
the city to help investigate these questions because otherwise culture
questions because otherwise culture
questions because otherwise culture which is something to do isn’t it with
which is something to do isn’t it with
which is something to do isn’t it with artists output contributes hugely to
artists output contributes hugely to
artists output contributes hugely to that otherwise it becomes what I keep
that otherwise it becomes what I keep
that otherwise it becomes what I keep hearing this term art wash that simply
hearing this term art wash that simply
hearing this term art wash that simply policymakers of all sorts can say yes we
policymakers of all sorts can say yes we
policymakers of all sorts can say yes we are very Pro culture yes art is really
are very Pro culture yes art is really
are very Pro culture yes art is really important look at this building we’ve
important look at this building we’ve
important look at this building we’ve built whereas actually no one talks
built whereas actually no one talks
built whereas actually no one talks about artists audiences or art and it
about artists audiences or art and it
about artists audiences or art and it takes artists to have those
takes artists to have those
takes artists to have those conversations which is why survive it’s
conversations which is why survive it’s
conversations which is why survive it’s so vital that we get involved so it is
so vital that we get involved so it is
so vital that we get involved so it is vital I believe for my health and
vital I believe for my health and
vital I believe for my health and happiness going forward as I continue
happiness going forward as I continue
happiness going forward as I continue this artistic exploration of my own
this artistic exploration of my own
this artistic exploration of my own sense of self identity relieved of
sense of self identity relieved of
sense of self identity relieved of parental pressure and believe me I’m a
parental pressure and believe me I’m a
parental pressure and believe me I’m a parent myself I know how it goes down
parent myself I know how it goes down
parent myself I know how it goes down the generations I was much more angry
the generations I was much more angry
the generations I was much more angry than I am now but I think it’s also
than I am now but I think it’s also
than I am now but I think it’s also really important that we carry on this
really important that we carry on this
really important that we carry on this exploration of our city identity because
exploration of our city identity because
exploration of our city identity because otherwise we simply have to become what
otherwise we simply have to become what
otherwise we simply have to become what we think other people want us to be and
we think other people want us to be and
we think other people want us to be and that’s no way to live a life
”
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