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How the unexpected, challenges perception and imagination | Marie Lienhard | TEDxStuttgart


do you know the expression to take a

do you know the expression to take a leap of faith what does that mean to

leap of faith what does that mean to

leap of faith what does that mean to take a leap of faith to take a leap of

take a leap of faith to take a leap of

take a leap of faith to take a leap of faith means to take a step into the

faith means to take a step into the

faith means to take a step into the unknown it’s like jumping from a huge

unknown it’s like jumping from a huge

unknown it’s like jumping from a huge cliff into a cold water taking a step

cliff into a cold water taking a step

cliff into a cold water taking a step beyond the boundaries of reason and when

beyond the boundaries of reason and when

beyond the boundaries of reason and when we take a leap of faith we are in a

we take a leap of faith we are in a

we take a leap of faith we are in a moment where we become aware of what’s

moment where we become aware of what’s

moment where we become aware of what’s happening around us what’s happening

happening around us what’s happening

happening around us what’s happening with us what we see what we hear what we

with us what we see what we hear what we

with us what we see what we hear what we smell and this reach sharpens our

smell and this reach sharpens our

smell and this reach sharpens our perception having grown up between

perception having grown up between

perception having grown up between France and England

France and England

France and England age 18 I decided to take a big step into

age 18 I decided to take a big step into

age 18 I decided to take a big step into the unknown I’ve been planning to go

the unknown I’ve been planning to go

the unknown I’ve been planning to go traveling with friends for years but I

traveling with friends for years but I

traveling with friends for years but I decided I wanted to go by myself so I

decided I wanted to go by myself so I

decided I wanted to go by myself so I went out there and had absolutely no

went out there and had absolutely no

went out there and had absolutely no plan but to see what happens and I had

plan but to see what happens and I had

plan but to see what happens and I had the fantastic chance of spending seven

the fantastic chance of spending seven

the fantastic chance of spending seven months in Australia out bush sleeping

months in Australia out bush sleeping

months in Australia out bush sleeping under the stars

under the stars

under the stars regularly having to wake up at night to

regularly having to wake up at night to

regularly having to wake up at night to feed the fire to keep the wild animals

feed the fire to keep the wild animals

feed the fire to keep the wild animals away from my camp and out of it I had

away from my camp and out of it I had

away from my camp and out of it I had the great opportunity of learning

the great opportunity of learning

the great opportunity of learning traditional crafts which brought me into

traditional crafts which brought me into

traditional crafts which brought me into really close connection with the

really close connection with the

really close connection with the Aboriginal community and this brought me

Aboriginal community and this brought me

Aboriginal community and this brought me even further into the landscape pure

even further into the landscape pure

even further into the landscape pure nature back to basics my senses were

nature back to basics my senses were

nature back to basics my senses were being constantly hit by the elements by

being constantly hit by the elements by

being constantly hit by the elements by fire by water by earth by air and then

fire by water by earth by air and then

fire by water by earth by air and then came the flights wind yeah I would never

came the flights wind yeah I would never

came the flights wind yeah I would never ever ever forget landing in the middle

ever ever forget landing in the middle

ever ever forget landing in the middle of the night in Mumbai age 19 all alone

of the night in Mumbai age 19 all alone

of the night in Mumbai age 19 all alone I said foot out of that plane and there

I said foot out of that plane and there

I said foot out of that plane and there was absolutely nothing

was absolutely nothing

was absolutely nothing nothing I could recognize there was no

nothing I could recognize there was no

nothing I could recognize there was no sight there was not a single smell

sight there was not a single smell

sight there was not a single smell there’s not a single sound that remote

there’s not a single sound that remote

there’s not a single sound that remote idli reminded me of anything I’d known

idli reminded me of anything I’d known

idli reminded me of anything I’d known before somehow even touched fel

before somehow even touched fel

before somehow even touched fel different unknowingly I landed in Mumbai

different unknowingly I landed in Mumbai

different unknowingly I landed in Mumbai in the middle of the Ganesh festival

in the middle of the Ganesh festival

in the middle of the Ganesh festival which is the most important religious

which is the most important religious

which is the most important religious festival in the area it brings thousands

festival in the area it brings thousands

festival in the area it brings thousands of people from the surrounding

of people from the surrounding

of people from the surrounding countryside and to an already totally

countryside and to an already totally

countryside and to an already totally and utterly overcrowded city a sea of

and utterly overcrowded city a sea of

and utterly overcrowded city a sea of devotees moving through the streets

devotees moving through the streets

devotees moving through the streets dancing and singing in the language I

dancing and singing in the language I

dancing and singing in the language I couldn’t understand carrying huge

couldn’t understand carrying huge

couldn’t understand carrying huge sculptures to go and throw them into the

sculptures to go and throw them into the

sculptures to go and throw them into the ocean I had gone from total and utter

ocean I had gone from total and utter

ocean I had gone from total and utter pure nature to pure culture my senses

pure nature to pure culture my senses

pure nature to pure culture my senses were being hit really quite differently

were being hit really quite differently

were being hit really quite differently than they were out but I felt as if I’d

than they were out but I felt as if I’d

than they were out but I felt as if I’d gone through a black hole landed in a

gone through a black hole landed in a

gone through a black hole landed in a new galaxy it was really scary the only

new galaxy it was really scary the only

new galaxy it was really scary the only thing that I had left was my observation

thing that I had left was my observation

thing that I had left was my observation I was by myself and I had to somehow

I was by myself and I had to somehow

I was by myself and I had to somehow find my way around so began to observe

find my way around so began to observe

find my way around so began to observe to pay attention to what I was hearing

to pay attention to what I was hearing

to pay attention to what I was hearing where what was which sound coming from

where what was which sound coming from

where what was which sound coming from what was producing which sound also the

what was producing which sound also the

what was producing which sound also the smells and also the look in people’s

smells and also the look in people’s

smells and also the look in people’s eyes what did these looks mean and

eyes what did these looks mean and

eyes what did these looks mean and certainly I managed to kind of find my

certainly I managed to kind of find my

certainly I managed to kind of find my way in and learn to navigate it now this

way in and learn to navigate it now this

way in and learn to navigate it now this is something that I really missed when I

is something that I really missed when I

is something that I really missed when I got back to Europe these experiences

got back to Europe these experiences

got back to Europe these experiences were so mmm so intense how the unknown

were so mmm so intense how the unknown

were so mmm so intense how the unknown quickens their senses how it sharpens

quickens their senses how it sharpens

quickens their senses how it sharpens our perception but I found something

our perception but I found something

our perception but I found something similar in the world of art especially

similar in the world of art especially

similar in the world of art especially art that deals with physical phenomena

art that deals with physical phenomena

art that deals with physical phenomena that raises questions

that raises questions

that raises questions and ask for new connections now let me

and ask for new connections now let me

and ask for new connections now let me give you an example a few months back I

give you an example a few months back I

give you an example a few months back I found myself on a plane to Abu Dhabi

found myself on a plane to Abu Dhabi

found myself on a plane to Abu Dhabi being totally fascinated by the view of

being totally fascinated by the view of

being totally fascinated by the view of the earth from above I always take my

the earth from above I always take my

the earth from above I always take my camera on board with me and having gone

camera on board with me and having gone

camera on board with me and having gone past Turkey flying above the black seen

past Turkey flying above the black seen

past Turkey flying above the black seen the play of Lights between the clouds on

the play of Lights between the clouds on

the play of Lights between the clouds on the surface of the water was really

the surface of the water was really

the surface of the water was really quite stunning and a few moments later

quite stunning and a few moments later

quite stunning and a few moments later the light had slightly changed so took

the light had slightly changed so took

the light had slightly changed so took out my camera again and I look through

out my camera again and I look through

out my camera again and I look through and this is what I saw the black sea was

and this is what I saw the black sea was

and this is what I saw the black sea was definitely not black what was happening

definitely not black what was happening

definitely not black what was happening so I did a reality check and the camera

so I did a reality check and the camera

so I did a reality check and the camera was revealing something which I couldn’t

was revealing something which I couldn’t

was revealing something which I couldn’t see with a naked eye as I found out

see with a naked eye as I found out

see with a naked eye as I found out later this is called a double light

later this is called a double light

later this is called a double light refraction this is a phenomena which

refraction this is a phenomena which

refraction this is a phenomena which uncovers something which is always there

uncovers something which is always there

uncovers something which is always there we just don’t normally see and so not

we just don’t normally see and so not

we just don’t normally see and so not being able to understand what was

being able to understand what was

being able to understand what was happening in that moment didn’t stop it

happening in that moment didn’t stop it

happening in that moment didn’t stop it from being less astonishing and I spend

from being less astonishing and I spend

from being less astonishing and I spend the rest of the flight crafting on my

the rest of the flight crafting on my

the rest of the flight crafting on my seat with my eye glued to the camera and

seat with my eye glued to the camera and

seat with my eye glued to the camera and then we flew past Syrian and a few

then we flew past Syrian and a few

then we flew past Syrian and a few moments later we free pass Iraq and as

moments later we free pass Iraq and as

moments later we free pass Iraq and as the Sun was setting were flying past

the Sun was setting were flying past

the Sun was setting were flying past Iran

now this suddenly visible natural

now this suddenly visible natural phenomena flashing in my mind’s eye with

phenomena flashing in my mind’s eye with

phenomena flashing in my mind’s eye with the images that I have what is happening

the images that I have what is happening

the images that I have what is happening on the ground at that very same moment

on the ground at that very same moment

on the ground at that very same moment how could such beauty collide with

how could such beauty collide with

how could such beauty collide with absolute horror it raised huge questions

absolute horror it raised huge questions

absolute horror it raised huge questions on on nature and on mankind somehow I’d

on on nature and on mankind somehow I’d

on on nature and on mankind somehow I’d caught something which combined and to

caught something which combined and to

caught something which combined and to utopia and utopia in one image now this

utopia and utopia in one image now this

utopia and utopia in one image now this surprise which I experienced on that

surprise which I experienced on that

surprise which I experienced on that flight is something that I intentionally

flight is something that I intentionally

flight is something that I intentionally work with in my art practice I

work with in my art practice I

work with in my art practice I intentionally create visual shifts to

intentionally create visual shifts to

intentionally create visual shifts to create unexpected experiences now I do

create unexpected experiences now I do

create unexpected experiences now I do this because these surprises and this

this because these surprises and this

this because these surprises and this unexpectedness it makes us aware of

unexpectedness it makes us aware of

unexpectedness it makes us aware of what’s happening makes us aware of

what’s happening makes us aware of

what’s happening makes us aware of what’s happening around us and what’s

what’s happening around us and what’s

what’s happening around us and what’s happening with us and on top of it it

happening with us and on top of it it

happening with us and on top of it it creates a very short moment of

creates a very short moment of

creates a very short moment of astonishment this moment of astonishment

astonishment this moment of astonishment

astonishment this moment of astonishment together with very precise sensory

together with very precise sensory

together with very precise sensory perception it lets us float in a moment

perception it lets us float in a moment

perception it lets us float in a moment of question through an experience of

of question through an experience of

of question through an experience of floating attention unexpected ideas and

floating attention unexpected ideas and

floating attention unexpected ideas and feelings and images can arise

I took an object which we all know in

I took an object which we all know in our daily nice a mirror and I placed it

our daily nice a mirror and I placed it

our daily nice a mirror and I placed it into the earth it was exactly the size

into the earth it was exactly the size

into the earth it was exactly the size of this carpet and by having its surface

of this carpet and by having its surface

of this carpet and by having its surface level with the surrounding ground I

level with the surrounding ground I

level with the surrounding ground I stopped being that object that we know

stopped being that object that we know

stopped being that object that we know and created a hole into the ground as

and created a hole into the ground as

and created a hole into the ground as deep as the sky is high

now whatever creates is always an

now whatever creates is always an invitation I never want to prescribe any

invitation I never want to prescribe any

invitation I never want to prescribe any particular perception to the viewer

particular perception to the viewer

particular perception to the viewer because ultimately each and every one of

because ultimately each and every one of

because ultimately each and every one of us enjoys an endless imaginative world

now with this piece I had the great

now with this piece I had the great opportunity to combine cultural

opportunity to combine cultural

opportunity to combine cultural exploration with artistic exploration in

exploration with artistic exploration in

exploration with artistic exploration in the context of connects the performance

the context of connects the performance

the context of connects the performance festival in the Democratic Republic of

festival in the Democratic Republic of

festival in the Democratic Republic of Congo the way that the Congolese people

Congo the way that the Congolese people

Congo the way that the Congolese people approach visual fall into the sky went

approach visual fall into the sky went

approach visual fall into the sky went way beyond anything I could have

way beyond anything I could have

way beyond anything I could have possibly imagined

the French philosopher Gaston bachelor

the French philosopher Gaston bachelor has a very poetical way of expressing

has a very poetical way of expressing

has a very poetical way of expressing how our imagination can influence our

how our imagination can influence our

how our imagination can influence our reason he says in the world of dreams we

reason he says in the world of dreams we

reason he says in the world of dreams we do not fly because we have wings but we

do not fly because we have wings but we

do not fly because we have wings but we have wings because we have flown now

have wings because we have flown now

have wings because we have flown now most of us are already dreamt of flying

most of us are already dreamt of flying

most of us are already dreamt of flying right if you think back on those dreams

right if you think back on those dreams

right if you think back on those dreams you’ll realize that that dream does not

you’ll realize that that dream does not

you’ll realize that that dream does not start with having wings having wings is

start with having wings having wings is

start with having wings having wings is not the starting point of flying and

not the starting point of flying and

not the starting point of flying and dreams but having flown is our

dreams but having flown is our

dreams but having flown is our imagination wings of how it feels to

imagination wings of how it feels to

imagination wings of how it feels to overcome something which is actually

overcome something which is actually

overcome something which is actually impossible and you can clues with the

impossible and you can clues with the

impossible and you can clues with the principle of flying and dreams is deep

principle of flying and dreams is deep

principle of flying and dreams is deep this is the principle which imagination

this is the principle which imagination

this is the principle which imagination must find the principle of flying in

must find the principle of flying in

must find the principle of flying in dreams is deep this is the principle

dreams is deep this is the principle

dreams is deep this is the principle which imagination must find so what he’s

which imagination must find so what he’s

which imagination must find so what he’s referring to is an experience of wonder

referring to is an experience of wonder

referring to is an experience of wonder wonder is a really complex information

wonder is a really complex information

wonder is a really complex information it is initiated by something singularly

it is initiated by something singularly

it is initiated by something singularly beautiful something rare or something

beautiful something rare or something

beautiful something rare or something unexpected and it brings with it an

unexpected and it brings with it an

unexpected and it brings with it an element of surprise an element of

element of surprise an element of

element of surprise an element of curiosity admiration and also

curiosity admiration and also

curiosity admiration and also contemplation

the experience of Wanda is often

the experience of Wanda is often dismissed as being self-indulgent well

dismissed as being self-indulgent well

dismissed as being self-indulgent well being childish yeah it’s true

being childish yeah it’s true

being childish yeah it’s true children enjoy wonder most of the time

children enjoy wonder most of the time

children enjoy wonder most of the time they can get totally lost on a tiny

they can get totally lost on a tiny

they can get totally lost on a tiny detail and forget everything else is

detail and forget everything else is

detail and forget everything else is happening around them and I think that’s

happening around them and I think that’s

happening around them and I think that’s the reason why it’s often dismissed by

the reason why it’s often dismissed by

the reason why it’s often dismissed by adults because it brings with it a fear

adults because it brings with it a fear

adults because it brings with it a fear of a breakdown of knowledge when we

of a breakdown of knowledge when we

of a breakdown of knowledge when we experience wonder we spare us a

experience wonder we spare us a

experience wonder we spare us a phenomena which goes way past our

phenomena which goes way past our

phenomena which goes way past our cognitive ability our reason is

cognitive ability our reason is

cognitive ability our reason is temporarily suspended it is a leap of

temporarily suspended it is a leap of

temporarily suspended it is a leap of faith the video I started off with

faith the video I started off with

faith the video I started off with logics of drops this is the record of

logics of drops this is the record of

logics of drops this is the record of four cameras which went way past our

four cameras which went way past our

four cameras which went way past our Earth’s atmosphere to have a look over

Earth’s atmosphere to have a look over

Earth’s atmosphere to have a look over the edge of space and come back down

the edge of space and come back down

the edge of space and come back down rather quickly back down to earth now

rather quickly back down to earth now

rather quickly back down to earth now experiencing that flight visually

experiencing that flight visually

experiencing that flight visually especially in virtual reality created a

especially in virtual reality created a

especially in virtual reality created a really strong illusion of being able to

really strong illusion of being able to

really strong illusion of being able to overcome physical limitations the

overcome physical limitations the

overcome physical limitations the reaction of the public was quite fun to

reaction of the public was quite fun to

reaction of the public was quite fun to observe just briefly forgetting that

observe just briefly forgetting that

observe just briefly forgetting that overcoming the laws of physics is not

overcoming the laws of physics is not

overcoming the laws of physics is not possible suspending a reason through

possible suspending a reason through

possible suspending a reason through perception is a really important topic

perception is a really important topic

perception is a really important topic in the world of art at the opening of

in the world of art at the opening of

in the world of art at the opening of this year’s document of the document of

this year’s document of the document of

this year’s document of the document of 14 its artistic director open the

14 its artistic director open the

14 its artistic director open the exhibition by underlining the idea that

exhibition by underlining the idea that

exhibition by underlining the idea that if we are going to begin to be able to

if we are going to begin to be able to

if we are going to begin to be able to begin to even imagine appropriate

begin to even imagine appropriate

begin to even imagine appropriate solutions to the global questions that

solutions to the global questions that

solutions to the global questions that we face today we need to start by

we face today we need to start by

we face today we need to start by accepting that our knowledge is totally

accepting that our knowledge is totally

accepting that our knowledge is totally limited

limited

limited and learning everything would believe to

and learning everything would believe to

and learning everything would believe to know is the best beginning and when we

know is the best beginning and when we

know is the best beginning and when we unlearn what we believe to know then

unlearn what we believe to know then

unlearn what we believe to know then we’re left with observation was looking

now this is something which is not only

now this is something which is not only fun in the world of art and the

fun in the world of art and the

fun in the world of art and the philosophy of startups for example

philosophy of startups for example

philosophy of startups for example raising every single idea we’ve already

raising every single idea we’ve already

raising every single idea we’ve already had to come up with the absolute

had to come up with the absolute

had to come up with the absolute groundbreaking new ideas is I think on

groundbreaking new ideas is I think on

groundbreaking new ideas is I think on the cards everywhere I look now the

the cards everywhere I look now the

the cards everywhere I look now the point is not to negate knowledge that is

point is not to negate knowledge that is

point is not to negate knowledge that is not the point

not the point

not the point not to negate knowledge but in order to

not to negate knowledge but in order to

not to negate knowledge but in order to be able to move with our time isn’t it

be able to move with our time isn’t it

be able to move with our time isn’t it really important that we keep

really important that we keep

really important that we keep reconsidering

reconsidering

reconsidering keep reassessing whether our

keep reassessing whether our

keep reassessing whether our understanding still fits with reality

and my opinion my humble opinion taking

and my opinion my humble opinion taking leaps of faith into imagination

leaps of faith into imagination

leaps of faith into imagination experiments there’s great potential

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