okay since I was a little girl I always knew I wanted to be an artist
knew I wanted to be an artist
knew I wanted to be an artist ever since my elementary school teacher
ever since my elementary school teacher
ever since my elementary school teacher she gave us the assignment to draw our
she gave us the assignment to draw our
she gave us the assignment to draw our favorite animal on a piece of paper and
favorite animal on a piece of paper and
favorite animal on a piece of paper and I chose to draw a dog and my
I chose to draw a dog and my
I chose to draw a dog and my three-year-old self
three-year-old self
three-year-old self knew from that very moment from looking
knew from that very moment from looking
knew from that very moment from looking at that beautiful brown-eyed puppy in
at that beautiful brown-eyed puppy in
at that beautiful brown-eyed puppy in front of me from remembering that my mom
front of me from remembering that my mom
front of me from remembering that my mom studied fashion that I was born and
studied fashion that I was born and
studied fashion that I was born and destined to be putting beautiful things
destined to be putting beautiful things
destined to be putting beautiful things to paper for the rest of my life so when
to paper for the rest of my life so when
to paper for the rest of my life so when that same teacher came to my desk and I
that same teacher came to my desk and I
that same teacher came to my desk and I was ready for my much deserved praise
was ready for my much deserved praise
was ready for my much deserved praise and she said to me honey a chocolate
and she said to me honey a chocolate
and she said to me honey a chocolate chip cookie is not an animal well let’s
chip cookie is not an animal well let’s
chip cookie is not an animal well let’s just say in that very moment I knew I
just say in that very moment I knew I
just say in that very moment I knew I would never be an artist so I must
would never be an artist so I must
would never be an artist so I must confess I am NOT an artist but over the
confess I am NOT an artist but over the
confess I am NOT an artist but over the past few years I’ve been lucky enough to
past few years I’ve been lucky enough to
past few years I’ve been lucky enough to spend my time around artists artists
spend my time around artists artists
spend my time around artists artists like moe vana Chen who is pictured here
like moe vana Chen who is pictured here
like moe vana Chen who is pictured here in the top left a Hong Kong artist who
in the top left a Hong Kong artist who
in the top left a Hong Kong artist who travels the world knitting conversations
travels the world knitting conversations
travels the world knitting conversations out of maps to learn about global
out of maps to learn about global
out of maps to learn about global communities and how we’re all connected
communities and how we’re all connected
communities and how we’re all connected artists like Simon birch who’s in
artists like Simon birch who’s in
artists like Simon birch who’s in contemporary artists and known for his
contemporary artists and known for his
contemporary artists and known for his moving portrait an artist like Jon
moving portrait an artist like Jon
moving portrait an artist like Jon friends and in the middle here who draws
friends and in the middle here who draws
friends and in the middle here who draws each line with every breath he takes and
each line with every breath he takes and
each line with every breath he takes and I noticed that every artist has
I noticed that every artist has
I noticed that every artist has something in common
something in common
something in common I’ve been able to realize that they
I’ve been able to realize that they
I’ve been able to realize that they think a certain way they create a
think a certain way they create a
think a certain way they create a certain way and they question a certain
certain way and they question a certain
certain way and they question a certain way the artistic mindset the artists
way the artistic mindset the artists
way the artistic mindset the artists mindset is so incredibly unique but in
mindset is so incredibly unique but in
mindset is so incredibly unique but in realizing the artists mindset I’ve
realizing the artists mindset I’ve
realizing the artists mindset I’ve noticed that we currently live in a
noticed that we currently live in a
noticed that we currently live in a creative paradox six years ago I chose
creative paradox six years ago I chose
creative paradox six years ago I chose to leave my home in New York to study at
to leave my home in New York to study at
to leave my home in New York to study at the University of Hong Kong firstly
the University of Hong Kong firstly
the University of Hong Kong firstly everyone thought I was absolutely absurd
everyone thought I was absolutely absurd
everyone thought I was absolutely absurd for leaving America to study in Asia but
for leaving America to study in Asia but
for leaving America to study in Asia but then when I chose to major in
then when I chose to major in
then when I chose to major in comparative literature with a minor in
comparative literature with a minor in
comparative literature with a minor in fine art and business all hell broke
fine art and business all hell broke
fine art and business all hell broke loose I was questioned weekly you know
loose I was questioned weekly you know
loose I was questioned weekly you know what is why is that such a weird thing
what is why is that such a weird thing
what is why is that such a weird thing that you do business or it just doesn’t
that you do business or it just doesn’t
that you do business or it just doesn’t make sense
make sense
make sense this is such a weird combo why did you
this is such a weird combo why did you
this is such a weird combo why did you choose to do that well to me the Y was
choose to do that well to me the Y was
choose to do that well to me the Y was obvious and it wasn’t weird at all I
obvious and it wasn’t weird at all I
obvious and it wasn’t weird at all I loved you know art and museums and
loved you know art and museums and
loved you know art and museums and paintings and seeing sculptures but on
paintings and seeing sculptures but on
paintings and seeing sculptures but on the other hand I also loved the idea of
the other hand I also loved the idea of
the other hand I also loved the idea of starting my own business
starting my own business
starting my own business of human resources and just a little bit
of human resources and just a little bit
of human resources and just a little bit of accounting so that leads me back to
of accounting so that leads me back to
of accounting so that leads me back to this creative paradox I’d like you to
this creative paradox I’d like you to
this creative paradox I’d like you to think back to yourself when was the last
think back to yourself when was the last
think back to yourself when was the last time that you are asked to be creative
time that you are asked to be creative
time that you are asked to be creative to innovate to think out of the box you
to innovate to think out of the box you
to innovate to think out of the box you know in these different everyday
know in these different everyday
know in these different everyday mindsets were questions and we’re called
mindsets were questions and we’re called
mindsets were questions and we’re called upon to be innovative and spark true
upon to be innovative and spark true
upon to be innovative and spark true ideas so we might not all be
ideas so we might not all be
ideas so we might not all be artistically inclined and that’s okay
artistically inclined and that’s okay
artistically inclined and that’s okay but what’s not okay is for us to ignore
but what’s not okay is for us to ignore
but what’s not okay is for us to ignore the artists mindset and the creations
the artists mindset and the creations
the artists mindset and the creations that create in a world that so
that create in a world that so
that create in a world that so ferociously craves innovation ideas and
ferociously craves innovation ideas and
ferociously craves innovation ideas and growth every single second so what can
growth every single second so what can
growth every single second so what can ask non artistic humans do do we take a
ask non artistic humans do do we take a
ask non artistic humans do do we take a drawing class do we go to the theatre
drawing class do we go to the theatre
drawing class do we go to the theatre perhaps you ballet I suggest that we can
perhaps you ballet I suggest that we can
perhaps you ballet I suggest that we can adopt this artists mindset to try and
adopt this artists mindset to try and
adopt this artists mindset to try and learn from it to observe the art to
learn from it to observe the art to
learn from it to observe the art to create and see where their ideas come
create and see where their ideas come
create and see where their ideas come from where their inspiration stands from
from where their inspiration stands from
from where their inspiration stands from about a year ago is working with a
about a year ago is working with a
about a year ago is working with a start-up named gourmet we were tasked to
start-up named gourmet we were tasked to
start-up named gourmet we were tasked to help an international insurance company
help an international insurance company
help an international insurance company reach its innovation targets the company
reach its innovation targets the company
reach its innovation targets the company had flown about 30 of its regional
had flown about 30 of its regional
had flown about 30 of its regional managers to Hong Kong and tasked us to
managers to Hong Kong and tasked us to
managers to Hong Kong and tasked us to create an event that would help spark
create an event that would help spark
create an event that would help spark innovation I suggested an art jamming
innovation I suggested an art jamming
innovation I suggested an art jamming session now you can imagine the lead
session now you can imagine the lead
session now you can imagine the lead manager thought it was a little bit out
manager thought it was a little bit out
manager thought it was a little bit out of my mind you know how can you ask a
of my mind you know how can you ask a
of my mind you know how can you ask a bunch of insurance managers to paint but
bunch of insurance managers to paint but
bunch of insurance managers to paint but luckily he was open enough and did let
luckily he was open enough and did let
luckily he was open enough and did let me you know experiment with his team so
me you know experiment with his team so
me you know experiment with his team so I brought in two very famous Hong Kong
I brought in two very famous Hong Kong
I brought in two very famous Hong Kong street artists gave them all paint
street artists gave them all paint
street artists gave them all paint markers and a white wooden plank each of
markers and a white wooden plank each of
markers and a white wooden plank each of the teams were tasked to create and the
the teams were tasked to create and the
the teams were tasked to create and the only example they were given was to mark
only example they were given was to mark
only example they were given was to mark something that was creative to paint
something that was creative to paint
something that was creative to paint what crossed their mind when they
what crossed their mind when they
what crossed their mind when they thought of insurance again this might be
thought of insurance again this might be
thought of insurance again this might be a very difficult task I know for me it
a very difficult task I know for me it
a very difficult task I know for me it would be so by the end of the evening
would be so by the end of the evening
would be so by the end of the evening the lead manager had asked each of the
the lead manager had asked each of the
the lead manager had asked each of the teams to take their works of art to the
teams to take their works of art to the
teams to take their works of art to the streets of Wan Chai and to sell those
streets of Wan Chai and to sell those
streets of Wan Chai and to sell those paintings so you can see that while
paintings so you can see that while
paintings so you can see that while these wooden planks might not be
these wooden planks might not be
these wooden planks might not be beautiful works of art
beautiful works of art
beautiful works of art they were pieces that each of the teams
they were pieces that each of the teams
they were pieces that each of the teams created on their own and what resulted
created on their own and what resulted
created on their own and what resulted was the teams had a true idea of
was the teams had a true idea of
was the teams had a true idea of innovation they created something that
innovation they created something that
innovation they created something that they built with their own hands in an
they built with their own hands in an
they built with their own hands in an environment that had completely no
environment that had completely no
environment that had completely no inhibitions they were able to create and
inhibitions they were able to create and
inhibitions they were able to create and sell something that they related to and
sell something that they related to and
sell something that they related to and in that very moment they were able to
in that very moment they were able to
in that very moment they were able to find new ways to sell things that they
find new ways to sell things that they
find new ways to sell things that they had never sold before true innovation
had never sold before true innovation
had never sold before true innovation for an insurance agency so artists don’t
for an insurance agency so artists don’t
for an insurance agency so artists don’t always create with market research and
always create with market research and
always create with market research and in that moment the insurance agents
in that moment the insurance agents
in that moment the insurance agents didn’t either so step one of the artist
didn’t either so step one of the artist
didn’t either so step one of the artist mindset is to create with what you have
mindset is to create with what you have
mindset is to create with what you have and perhaps not with all the evidence
and perhaps not with all the evidence
and perhaps not with all the evidence that you may need for the second part of
that you may need for the second part of
that you may need for the second part of the artist mindset I look to Japanese
the artist mindset I look to Japanese
the artist mindset I look to Japanese artists Yayoi Kusama now many of you
artists Yayoi Kusama now many of you
artists Yayoi Kusama now many of you might know of her for those of you who
might know of her for those of you who
might know of her for those of you who don’t
don’t
don’t she’s favorite very famous for her polka
she’s favorite very famous for her polka
she’s favorite very famous for her polka dot works she has an obsession with
dot works she has an obsession with
dot works she has an obsession with polka dots but the stemming the
polka dots but the stemming the
polka dots but the stemming the origination of those polka dots come
origination of those polka dots come
origination of those polka dots come from her troubles and hallucinations
from her troubles and hallucinations
from her troubles and hallucinations most famously she was that she spent
most famously she was that she spent
most famously she was that she spent decades in a psychiatric institution so
decades in a psychiatric institution so
decades in a psychiatric institution so what can she teach us she sees the world
what can she teach us she sees the world
what can she teach us she sees the world in polka dots more specifically this is
in polka dots more specifically this is
in polka dots more specifically this is how she sees Mount Fuji so through her
how she sees Mount Fuji so through her
how she sees Mount Fuji so through her new perspective what she’s able to teach
new perspective what she’s able to teach
new perspective what she’s able to teach us is that not everyone sees the world
us is that not everyone sees the world
us is that not everyone sees the world in black and white the person sitting
in black and white the person sitting
in black and white the person sitting next to you might see the world
next to you might see the world
next to you might see the world completely different than you might see
completely different than you might see
completely different than you might see it yourself and everyone sees different
it yourself and everyone sees different
it yourself and everyone sees different colors different gray areas and through
colors different gray areas and through
colors different gray areas and through her reframing of her medical diagnosis
her reframing of her medical diagnosis
her reframing of her medical diagnosis she was able to gain a new perspective
she was able to gain a new perspective
she was able to gain a new perspective that new perspective challenges us every
that new perspective challenges us every
that new perspective challenges us every day it challenged us to see the world
day it challenged us to see the world
day it challenged us to see the world from our clients from our customers from
from our clients from our customers from
from our clients from our customers from our patients from everyone around us and
our patients from everyone around us and
our patients from everyone around us and who were trying to influence help or
who were trying to influence help or
who were trying to influence help or create this work is called when life
create this work is called when life
create this work is called when life boundlessly flares to the universe so
boundlessly flares to the universe so
boundlessly flares to the universe so step two in adopting the artists mindset
step two in adopting the artists mindset
step two in adopting the artists mindset is that you should sorry that you should
is that you should sorry that you should
is that you should sorry that you should look at the world with a different
look at the world with a different
look at the world with a different perspective and perhaps question the
perspective and perhaps question the
perspective and perhaps question the things around you so I hope that when
things around you so I hope that when
things around you so I hope that when looking at this work when life
looking at this work when life
looking at this work when life boundlessly flares to the universe you
boundlessly flares to the universe you
boundlessly flares to the universe you let those new perspective
let those new perspective
let those new perspective boundlessly flair to your own universe
boundlessly flair to your own universe
boundlessly flair to your own universe now part three of the artist mindset I
now part three of the artist mindset I
now part three of the artist mindset I look to my previous boss and mentor
look to my previous boss and mentor
look to my previous boss and mentor Simon birch now much like Kusama Simon
Simon birch now much like Kusama Simon
Simon birch now much like Kusama Simon birch struggled with cancer and he told
birch struggled with cancer and he told
birch struggled with cancer and he told us about how just on this very TEDx
us about how just on this very TEDx
us about how just on this very TEDx stage actually how his medical diagnosis
stage actually how his medical diagnosis
stage actually how his medical diagnosis helped him become the artist that he is
helped him become the artist that he is
helped him become the artist that he is today but what I’d like to focus on
today but what I’d like to focus on
today but what I’d like to focus on instead is his innate nature to
instead is his innate nature to
instead is his innate nature to collaborate a few years ago Simon and I
collaborate a few years ago Simon and I
collaborate a few years ago Simon and I were walking the Occupy central and the
were walking the Occupy central and the
were walking the Occupy central and the umbrella movement and then Simon is
umbrella movement and then Simon is
umbrella movement and then Simon is quite a famous Hong Kong artists so
quite a famous Hong Kong artists so
quite a famous Hong Kong artists so you’re walking the street and a young
you’re walking the street and a young
you’re walking the street and a young student passed by and said I got it
student passed by and said I got it
student passed by and said I got it so then Simon turned around and said hi
so then Simon turned around and said hi
so then Simon turned around and said hi what’s your name and what Simon did in
what’s your name and what Simon did in
what’s your name and what Simon did in that very moment showed his true nature
that very moment showed his true nature
that very moment showed his true nature of choosing to collaborate with the
of choosing to collaborate with the
of choosing to collaborate with the community and artistic community around
community and artistic community around
community and artistic community around him no matter how unexperienced or
him no matter how unexperienced or
him no matter how unexperienced or experienced you are
experienced you are
experienced you are he asked the students name he asked
he asked the students name he asked
he asked the students name he asked their address the artist student said
their address the artist student said
their address the artist student said that he was so inspired by Simon that
that he was so inspired by Simon that
that he was so inspired by Simon that Simon inspired him to become an artist
Simon inspired him to become an artist
Simon inspired him to become an artist himself but unfortunately he couldn’t
himself but unfortunately he couldn’t
himself but unfortunately he couldn’t afford paint he couldn’t afford canvases
afford paint he couldn’t afford canvases
afford paint he couldn’t afford canvases so Simon asked me to take his address to
so Simon asked me to take his address to
so Simon asked me to take his address to ship him as much paint and as much
ship him as much paint and as much
ship him as much paint and as much canvases as he needed and once that
canvases as he needed and once that
canvases as he needed and once that student was done with that artwork to
student was done with that artwork to
student was done with that artwork to send it back to Simon studio to see how
send it back to Simon studio to see how
send it back to Simon studio to see how we can work with it and half a man could
we can work with it and half a man could
we can work with it and half a man could get inspired by it
get inspired by it
get inspired by it so that showed Simon’s true nature to
so that showed Simon’s true nature to
so that showed Simon’s true nature to collaborate so when adopting the artists
collaborate so when adopting the artists
collaborate so when adopting the artists perspective I hope that you can remember
perspective I hope that you can remember
perspective I hope that you can remember to collaborate to communicate and
to collaborate to communicate and
to collaborate to communicate and perhaps not to compete all the time
perhaps not to compete all the time
perhaps not to compete all the time Simon just recently opened the 14th
Simon just recently opened the 14th
Simon just recently opened the 14th Factory in LA it’s an enormous project
Factory in LA it’s an enormous project
Factory in LA it’s an enormous project 150,000 square feet were over 10 artists
150,000 square feet were over 10 artists
150,000 square feet were over 10 artists collaborate and there’s over 14
collaborate and there’s over 14
collaborate and there’s over 14 different installations Simon has
different installations Simon has
different installations Simon has claimed international acclaim with this
claimed international acclaim with this
claimed international acclaim with this project something that might have been a
project something that might have been a
project something that might have been a lot more difficult for himself had he
lot more difficult for himself had he
lot more difficult for himself had he done it all alone similarly there’s an
done it all alone similarly there’s an
done it all alone similarly there’s an undeniable beauty that comes across when
undeniable beauty that comes across when
undeniable beauty that comes across when over 230 galleries gather in Hong Kong
over 230 galleries gather in Hong Kong
over 230 galleries gather in Hong Kong every year for Art Basel each and every
every year for Art Basel each and every
every year for Art Basel each and every month so
month so
month so – actually with what you have to change
– actually with what you have to change
– actually with what you have to change your perspective and to collaborate
your perspective and to collaborate
your perspective and to collaborate these are just a few observations that
these are just a few observations that
these are just a few observations that I’ve made over a very brief career and I
I’ve made over a very brief career and I
I’ve made over a very brief career and I hope that you can somehow make your own
hope that you can somehow make your own
hope that you can somehow make your own I challenge you to go to a museum to go
I challenge you to go to a museum to go
I challenge you to go to a museum to go to a gallery to go to the class of your
to a gallery to go to the class of your
to a gallery to go to the class of your daughter who might think she’s an an
daughter who might think she’s an an
daughter who might think she’s an an artist one day because artists create
artist one day because artists create
artist one day because artists create and when they create it’s not always
and when they create it’s not always
and when they create it’s not always rational logical or linear rather it’s
rational logical or linear rather it’s
rational logical or linear rather it’s more often than not sporadic
more often than not sporadic
more often than not sporadic different and communal and when they
different and communal and when they
different and communal and when they create it’s really up to us to learn
create it’s really up to us to learn
create it’s really up to us to learn from these creations to look at what
from these creations to look at what
from these creations to look at what they’re creating to adopt their mindset
they’re creating to adopt their mindset
they’re creating to adopt their mindset and turn it into practical creativity
and turn it into practical creativity
and turn it into practical creativity for us to use in our daily lives so once
for us to use in our daily lives so once
for us to use in our daily lives so once again I challenge you to go to a gallery
again I challenge you to go to a gallery
again I challenge you to go to a gallery to visit your friend who might have an
to visit your friend who might have an
to visit your friend who might have an artist studio on the south side of Hong
artist studio on the south side of Hong
artist studio on the south side of Hong Kong to visit a gallery or even to
Kong to visit a gallery or even to
Kong to visit a gallery or even to explore Art Basel one more time on your
explore Art Basel one more time on your
explore Art Basel one more time on your own without any inhibitions because true
own without any inhibitions because true
own without any inhibitions because true creativity innovation and seeds of
creativity innovation and seeds of
creativity innovation and seeds of growth all products of the artist
growth all products of the artist
growth all products of the artist mindset exist in all forms shapes and
mindset exist in all forms shapes and
mindset exist in all forms shapes and sizes even in a chocolate chip cookie
sizes even in a chocolate chip cookie
sizes even in a chocolate chip cookie shaped dog drawing thank you
shaped dog drawing thank you
shaped dog drawing thank you [Applause]
”
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