0:01

Ted Audio Collective. Hello

0:12

There This is Chris Anderson.

0:14

Welcome. To the Ted Interview. So.

0:17

In this series of the Tell

0:20

interview where diving into generosity in

0:22

all it's aspects of can't believe

0:24

this is the single most important

0:27

idea in the human arsenal because

0:29

everything else depends on it. It's

0:32

an idea I wrote a book

0:34

about called Infectious Generosity and the

0:36

Spirit of Generosity were offering free

0:39

copies of both the book and

0:41

the audiobook to tell interview listeners

0:43

and go to ted.com/generosity fill out

0:46

the short form that. Cameo

0:48

with now generosity can be expressed

0:50

in so many different ways and

0:52

today we're focusing on one of

0:55

the most beautiful perhaps the has

0:57

beautiful enchantment. The

1:01

gift of enchantment is something

1:03

that can be offered by

1:05

an artist by any musician

1:08

of photographer, poet, storyteller, filmmaker.

1:10

And we're in an age

1:12

where that and gift. Can

1:15

be shared online to an unlimited

1:17

number of people. Actually,

1:19

I think that fact sometimes blinds

1:22

us as to how powerful a

1:24

gift this is was. swimming in

1:26

a sea of free content. we

1:28

almost don't have time to reflect

1:31

on the enchantment it is capable

1:33

of bringing us. So I think

1:35

it will be powerful today to

1:38

step back from that frenzied online

1:40

world and instead meet someone who

1:42

has devoted her life to spreading

1:44

enchantment to numerous communities around the

1:47

world. Often in the

1:49

most unlikely places, the broken places,

1:51

as she puts it, So

1:54

I'm here with Lily Yea,

1:56

a truly remarkable artist now

1:58

in her eighties and. Rather

2:00

than try to tell you has

2:02

story I'm than to invite had

2:04

to let herself and to explore

2:07

with me the amazing this have

2:09

this ability to enchant to lift

2:11

people and what can happen as

2:13

a result of. Can

2:22

buy presents. unexplained appearances. It

2:24

was an ordinary work day

2:27

until. Presentation appears at

2:29

a thin air. Also which

2:31

eerily on brand play. Did

2:33

that agenda? Chess right? itself? Words

2:36

up here making this unexplainable

2:38

came unexplainable. That's. Kansas A

2:40

I thought I can suddenly flies.

2:43

And local second feel. The

2:45

real mystery is why I'm

2:47

only learn is now Canada.

2:49

Thumb designed for where. You're

2:54

growing. A business and you can't afford

2:56

to slow down as anything is. The

2:58

probably is a few more hours in

3:00

the day that for the most successful

3:03

growing businesses are working together in slack.

3:05

France is where work with all your

3:07

people's data and information in. One A

3:09

out from a T. A

3:12

call instantly Incident. And discover

3:14

some ponder in both are building

3:16

automation with worse other to take

3:18

routine. Know

3:20

putting the things. Grow. Your Business

3:22

Insider. Is it's laptop home to

3:25

get started? League

3:31

A welcome to the tendency you. Think.

3:34

To Whedon on her. Subsidies.

3:36

I'd love to hear of this

3:38

about your childhood. Well.

3:41

It. Was just a lot

3:44

of running away. I was

3:46

born in China and it

3:49

was during their China Japanese

3:51

war My mom's on men

3:54

more towards the box homestay

3:56

packing up. consider running away

3:58

from pounds. Maine and find

4:01

the new homes and try

4:03

a in the traveling under

4:05

road into difficulty and so

4:08

forth and then finally use

4:10

it for nineteen Forty eight.

4:12

My family moved to Taiwan

4:14

because my father was a

4:17

high ranking officer in the

4:19

army drunk. As six army

4:21

we have to escape far

4:23

lives. Yeah so. Safer.

4:27

To Taiwan and then

4:29

continued your childhood there

4:31

and. I'm. Your

4:33

father's of renown general. If he encouraged

4:35

you to be an office, don't have

4:37

that. Oh, Yes my father

4:40

who who loves to travel

4:42

but then when he we

4:44

retired to Taiwan we can

4:47

travel so freely in for

4:49

different reasons and it's that

4:52

he does us Chinese landscape

4:54

painting and in way Chinese

4:57

landscape painting is structured in

4:59

such a way that you

5:02

can live today untreated painting

5:04

and travel with the peephole.

5:06

When I was. Sixteen he

5:09

took me to a teacher

5:11

two months she's and is

5:13

then after that I just

5:16

found I was hooked. I

5:18

just loved the beauty and

5:20

the calmness. Silks from high

5:23

school to college tie dye

5:25

university he seven years I

5:27

used to most of time

5:30

in painting landscape in the

5:32

was very happy focused. You.

5:35

Discard the summer boxes Dust

5:37

less. what? What to set

5:39

me? Yes! in. The Chinese

5:41

dollars in their point to

5:44

the in their right to

5:46

the longing is going to

5:49

have plays that is tranquil

5:51

and pristine like in the

5:54

landscape painting seat the it's

5:56

is surrounded. Chief. Even

5:58

so, it is so. Why it

6:00

by the campaigns of all

6:03

the movement? For me it's

6:05

an energy center when I'm

6:07

close to died and I

6:09

feel myself my heart beat

6:12

fast When I'm supposed said

6:14

energy is like is a

6:16

for every new in you

6:19

know it's like dow in

6:21

in Indiana is in dark

6:23

and light is in eternal

6:25

and brace and struggling but

6:28

there are always in balance.

6:30

So it contains the

6:32

light and dark and

6:34

in other term good

6:36

and evil stuff, the

6:39

good brightness and the

6:41

darkness. The balance is

6:43

so intense it's like

6:45

us the translucency of

6:47

the send like that

6:49

contain some all powers

6:51

that to me is

6:53

the transcendent reality and

6:55

they cause the dust

6:57

This world. Is not

6:59

intended this assert his description of the

7:01

world as it is it says and

7:03

of longing for a purer expression of

7:05

the dance of reality of the we

7:07

go through his. His life. You

7:10

know it lies in

7:12

it's most tranquil, balanced

7:14

and state of being.

7:16

And it's a could

7:18

live Brams. How

7:21

did you end up coming to America?

7:23

To steady. You. Know how

7:26

one is very small and

7:28

also. Oil pursuing. My

7:30

time are growing up it was

7:32

very controlled because there's still a

7:35

lot of a political tension sold.

7:37

Our goal is to spur thera

7:39

our study abroad and so when

7:42

I came I got in several

7:44

offers to study art and so

7:47

I chose foods that fear because

7:49

invasive Pennsylvania is one of the

7:51

old to their old school in

7:54

Philadelphia is full of history and

7:56

culture and. Charm and did

7:58

Americans embrace your. Landscape painting,

8:01

Was. At the beginning of

8:03

a curious how could you

8:05

know I did smack really

8:07

mind it's the tradition you

8:10

know but because since the

8:12

had i find myself in

8:14

such share strange found if

8:16

i continued to tradition and

8:18

bounds by the tradition in

8:20

a way where i felt

8:23

like I have paid seat

8:25

but then if i that

8:27

goal of the bandage i

8:29

was loss it was quite.

8:31

Loss for quite a few years

8:34

in a fog stumbling who won

8:36

during an in of you know

8:39

I lived in the class the

8:41

code this does plus world is

8:43

beautiful and then I come to

8:46

the sixties Sli unit in the

8:48

sixties have while my god anything

8:50

is permissible a is the city

8:53

you have this student rise you

8:55

has the protests to have this

8:57

huge art market in New A

9:00

New York and. Are it

9:02

is a powerful force in

9:04

would not. I just felt

9:06

that the I didn't belong

9:09

to any of that in

9:11

often I felt that the

9:13

train is moving and whole

9:15

thing hanging on by the

9:17

door. One hand holding and

9:19

trying to get on the

9:22

train was very exciting, disorienting

9:24

and the fog you know

9:26

it's kind of I'm here.

9:28

I'm a very slow in

9:30

finding my. Way Yeah. Switch

9:34

from. You did stocks

9:36

find your way at least in

9:38

professor years mean, meet you. There

9:40

was a pathway to becoming a

9:42

successful professional. Swimmers as

9:44

was very lucky because

9:47

America of such wonderful

9:49

openness and freedoms and

9:52

kindness among people so

9:54

felt welcome to and

9:56

embraced. And because I

9:59

am. I'm from such

10:01

a different culture be you

10:03

know galleries were interested in.

10:05

I graduate because I have

10:07

a master in fine arts

10:09

in are you from U.

10:11

Penn said that gave me

10:13

license to get a teaching

10:16

job under a college level.

10:18

yeah Externally I was successful

10:20

but not internal leak and

10:22

then. Something happened in

10:24

in Philadelphia that that

10:26

really. Changed. The trajectory of

10:28

your life and I think. Officer

10:31

seems to have answered some of the questions

10:33

you have. Talk about what happened. Oh

10:36

well, I think I stumbled

10:38

for quite a few years

10:40

really From their work on

10:42

paper it's I began to

10:45

work on tenders and like

10:47

cadet my pillow my words

10:49

because I didn't know where

10:51

to go I started to

10:54

installation. Installation requires space so

10:56

was considered looking for a

10:58

space. and because I was

11:01

searching so hard I think

11:03

life offered me an opportunity.

11:06

And then Asa Hall very

11:08

same African Americans choreographer extensive

11:10

see his stations in North

11:12

Food duff yes in inner

11:14

city So he said to

11:17

me that I have been

11:19

abandoned lot next to my

11:21

head coach her you to

11:23

guidance and interior. God is

11:25

why don't you to a

11:28

garden on my abandoned lot

11:30

and I was thinking it'll

11:32

be young and kind of

11:34

so reckless. In that oh

11:36

yeah going Not So Everybody was

11:39

writing a proposal to get grant

11:41

money. I say man why do

11:43

night do that? So I wrote

11:46

a proposal to the of Pennsylvania

11:48

Council on the Arts and lo

11:50

and behold it's They gave me

11:53

part of the many by the

11:55

I was so so stunned that

11:58

somebody gave me money. In

12:00

doing something that I have no

12:02

idea how to do you know

12:05

to create an arthritis on independent

12:07

lives with children in in the

12:09

city So I was told to

12:12

be scared and I said well

12:14

I ask professionals face you know

12:16

you can't do would skew the

12:19

heavy enough money as had drop

12:21

in the but kids and kids

12:23

can destroy anything you build and

12:26

I wanted to withdraw and then

12:28

the voice in me. Said

12:30

that if you don't.

12:33

Rice. Treaty a case and

12:35

the best of you will

12:38

die and the rest will

12:40

not amount to anything I

12:42

said them me try this,

12:45

I think that was. Brave.

12:48

Thing I did and then

12:50

it's changed my life. For.

12:53

That is one amazing and title

12:55

voice. He was kind of the

12:57

i'm and you and your forces

12:59

at this point. yeah and discarded

13:01

that you'd been invited to me.

13:03

We're not talking planting some flowers

13:05

heroes and lemme tell us what

13:07

actually you if it had in

13:09

mind here and what Princesses. I

13:11

had no idea. When

13:14

the thousand Now I said

13:16

just now Quit So. I

13:20

don't think know Amanda

13:22

vegetation prepared me for

13:24

that. So. Is it?

13:26

well? let me go and look

13:28

around. And. Then so I

13:30

as us to ice. I can

13:32

do it alone. I need to

13:34

help. And then so he said

13:36

go and find Jojo. Sutures:

13:39

Name is Joseph Williams.

13:41

And is he will help his

13:43

death. Jack of all trades you

13:45

help you. So I went to

13:48

his house right next to the

13:50

event of lot and then plays

13:52

purity when somewhere and victory. He

13:54

told me the war down the

13:56

street is that there's this crazy

13:59

try this lady one the build

14:01

the guide them here and want

14:03

to do do to help so

14:05

he wanted nothing to do with

14:07

me but this third time I

14:10

tore his shared with him about

14:12

built in guard them with the

14:14

trojan and he liked the idea

14:16

so she came in help me

14:18

so we would just out you

14:21

know who poking around than putting

14:23

the shuffle sheer in there and

14:25

this state is Then I saw

14:27

a branch underground and too soon

14:29

inspiration. I am pick up that

14:32

branch right in the center of

14:34

the abandon lot. I true a

14:36

big circle. I said that from

14:39

seer we're going to start to

14:41

built and then so we got

14:43

the shovel we start to mark

14:45

the circle and then the kids

14:48

in the neighborhood they don't have

14:50

place to go they saw as

14:52

saudi around doing this and that

14:55

looks like fun stages is ask

14:57

what can we come and help.

15:00

In I was said little

15:02

foods I already had the

15:04

shovel isn't a spade and

15:06

sings a kids like I

15:09

said you can And so

15:11

we start building. That's how

15:13

we start building. My first

15:15

team was little children from

15:18

three and half two thirteen.

15:20

That's my first team pounds

15:22

worth of children. I

15:25

can not thank them enough for

15:27

the hating me. But what

15:29

did you build? We. Start to

15:31

be as it is to

15:33

create the circle with dug

15:35

up a lot of bricks

15:37

and rocks and so far

15:39

as thing we realize that

15:41

this a better than the

15:43

place actually has resources some

15:45

of them we start to

15:47

build sculpture was start to

15:49

build cause I'm like sneeze.

15:52

And. I was so naive I

15:54

never built in new things and

15:56

so the congress would build kind

15:59

of collapsed it does things run

16:01

and then so far as I

16:03

sit old well you know what

16:06

we did build is not good

16:08

enough that to ask how to

16:10

properly filled that's how eventual beach

16:13

we became good builders because we

16:15

have expert builders to help us

16:17

and them because our paints or

16:20

killed off and then so I

16:22

said well we do mosaic My

16:24

good friend mosaic artist I see

16:27

is a guy he'll end the

16:29

he taught. Me and eventually

16:32

it became a mosaic

16:34

discover true garden. So.

16:37

You've turned with the help of. Children.

16:40

And Jojo and a growing

16:43

community and abandoned lot of

16:45

land into this the sculpture

16:47

garden. And as if someone.

16:51

Looks the images of this

16:53

online sifted google like the

16:55

Village of Arts and Humanities

16:58

in North Philadelphia. I mean,

17:01

This. Place became beautiful and it's

17:03

such to attracts visitors. To

17:05

me a story of how

17:08

something maybe that someone in

17:10

that community said to about.

17:13

What? This. New.

17:15

Garden meant to them. My.

17:18

Work eyes real life

17:20

that what you see

17:22

is only sixty percent.

17:24

Sixty percent is the

17:27

prices and sued the

17:29

prices lies been transformed.

17:31

I often say that

17:33

it is from the

17:35

transformations to ours is

17:37

through environments could the

17:40

the spirits and the

17:42

heart of the participants.

17:44

And I only started

17:46

with shorts and. But

17:48

the point can not be filled

17:50

by children at to lead. The

17:53

people who helped me to really

17:55

build the park are the people

17:57

from the community job and as.

18:00

Oh send a ticket to track

18:02

actual days when our parties are

18:04

becoming more prominent like meditation park

18:07

we get to a first time

18:09

national than down and we are

18:11

visible and so people say that

18:14

you can not week of work

18:16

with to occur in cool because

18:18

they are or addicted and drugs

18:20

and the funny thing is that

18:23

when I invited them to join

18:25

I didn't know said people came

18:27

because they have something to do.

18:30

And this is building building

18:32

is very convincing and then

18:34

building something beautiful to get

18:36

sick foods. Their community spirit

18:38

is just some things it

18:40

beeps today for silly so

18:42

people would come then to

18:44

report to came into view

18:46

and then they said they

18:48

were all on drugs then

18:50

I realized oh well you

18:52

know a drug team helping

18:55

me so then people say

18:57

you cannot hire them and

18:59

I say well. If your

19:01

family have a person it's

19:03

addictive drugs do you have

19:05

been didn't that person you

19:07

continue to help rights and

19:09

those people for one to

19:12

help me then I want

19:14

to provide an opportunity for

19:16

them to step in tool

19:18

to do some things that

19:20

for filming and so and

19:22

so's aren't the people help

19:24

me and sued the process

19:26

I have father came and

19:28

observe the sun. Working and

19:31

told me sad my son

19:33

now works. I feel proud

19:35

of him. At this beautiful

19:38

images for you he says it's building

19:40

was a cleansing experience as as a

19:42

such a powerful concepts you know so

19:44

we spend so much time to they

19:46

fighting each other. And.

19:49

As you can flip that switch

19:51

somehow to building something together for

19:53

his sins or everything, everything changes.

19:56

Think. Of. Shakespeare's

19:58

Tragedy. Those.

20:01

Are some of

20:03

the most and

20:05

savoring failure Darkness

20:07

qualities in human

20:09

nature. And yet

20:12

from those cracks light

20:14

come through. And

20:16

you few can transform that

20:19

dark energy into creative energy

20:21

if you can show people

20:24

way out in on during

20:26

their talent. Creativity listening to

20:29

them allowed their voice to

20:31

rise and collaborate together to

20:34

create is some things that

20:36

belong to us it pull

20:39

off to off not seeing

20:41

more power for more shielding

20:44

then sat so that's. The

20:46

transformation in and yen you

20:48

know the most ready for

20:50

transformation is the dark his

20:53

darkest days the is squirmed.

20:55

We celebrate Christmas to coming

20:57

off the light. The

21:00

whole community was involved in doing

21:03

these mosaics as well. How does

21:05

that work to do? Teach people

21:07

how to do create this vast

21:10

mosaic landscape? In

21:12

the Us so as soon as

21:14

they can not be taught this

21:16

is it just does whatever they

21:18

can And I've learned because I

21:21

was very upset that they didn't

21:23

do things according to bit might

21:25

be science and I said you

21:27

know I'm going to stop it

21:29

again Scrape everything often So far

21:31

as the and Life spoke to

21:34

me to my wonderful London cheer

21:36

Care Weisman She was a grad

21:38

student at P C A you

21:40

are it's and she said. Mr.

21:43

Liddell the you feel calm

21:45

down l for to fit

21:47

troops withdrew have as did

21:49

send those two little hands

21:52

blessing you are tiles and

21:54

making or tiles and I

21:56

understood so I'd let them

21:58

do whatever. you know when

22:01

you are art when it's

22:03

bigger and more structured. It

22:06

would resort disharmony. And

22:08

it as feel and richness. Yeah

22:11

and then we get better. we

22:13

get better organized. I tell you

22:15

a story of fake man I

22:18

was doing it and Joe Ali.

22:20

And a I wanted to

22:22

Ethiopian ensure I say it

22:24

got to be Andrew from

22:27

Africa for but the people

22:29

in this commit African American

22:31

community. It's saw. It beats

22:33

eight foot tall and you'll

22:35

see her or Ethiopian style

22:37

And I've painted but I

22:40

have to teach to earn

22:42

a living. So big man

22:44

he was addicted to drugs

22:46

for twenty years and so

22:48

out the pie li he.

22:50

Came through, chose Troll

22:52

for refuge and so

22:54

I taught him the

22:56

mosaic. I guided him

22:59

with the he said

23:01

within your lines I

23:03

put the mosaics together

23:05

and eventually piece by

23:07

piece. The broken was

23:09

Daves see fun. the

23:11

way to kill himself.

23:13

He thought he would

23:15

die in the gutters,

23:17

some were. Eventually he

23:19

became less very. Well known

23:21

and most to be Love

23:24

the member in the community.

23:26

We work together for sixteen

23:28

years. a lot of Missouri

23:30

is by him and then

23:32

under him be he became

23:34

them village managing directors he

23:37

work with that proves he

23:39

manages to cruel drug problems

23:41

is set up death narcotics

23:43

anonymous meetings we could like

23:45

those story with turn them

23:47

into the theater pieces and

23:50

she was. The most be

23:52

love people come in want to

23:54

take pictures with humor in I

23:56

said why big man. Then.

23:58

I realized that because

24:01

year for them so

24:03

deep and when she

24:05

rise of tea has

24:07

infinite patience, compassion, understanding

24:10

and that is the

24:12

power worth of the

24:14

process. This amazing

24:16

is is it is. His

24:18

name is big like literally

24:21

six foot eight. James

24:23

Max. Big.

24:26

Massive. Wow.

24:29

That's. Not a such a moving story

24:31

and it goes to i'm on Someone

24:33

stood Lily and how. Ripple.

24:35

Effects happens through generosity. I

24:38

mean, that's you. Dedicated.

24:42

So much good time to this

24:44

project. I dare say you could

24:46

have been earning more money as

24:48

an artist, was a teacher elsewhere.

24:50

That's that's you. Dedicate your time

24:52

to this and crowds. You involve

24:55

children and then their families got

24:57

engaged and then people like Big

24:59

Man got involved allies. They gets

25:01

transformed and. See. Then

25:04

with you. Spreads is

25:06

reflect through the community so that

25:08

the sitcoms one of the talking

25:10

points of Philadelphia a place that

25:12

people would tourists would come to.

25:15

Visit How incredible is it that

25:17

that what and stuff so on

25:19

promising li can create these ripple

25:22

effects that that really make an

25:24

impact of resuscitate. I

25:26

think the story is it.

25:29

Broken Places where north for does

25:31

See I'm in a city every

25:33

player is usually a place of

25:36

that then demand of has since

25:38

anchor and so if you don't

25:41

know you go through with this

25:43

city you roll up your windows

25:45

locked the door is that kind

25:48

of seer? Yeah that's when you

25:50

go into it when people realize

25:52

that you are not doing it's

25:55

truth it take away from the

25:57

community but you're working. With

25:59

children and bringing joy you

26:01

know any and then the

26:04

beauty they have not seen

26:06

because I said i'm not

26:08

that a person really not

26:11

Was it a lot of

26:13

expertise or wells but for

26:15

the i him brings is

26:18

what inspired me. Those are

26:20

Dicks Chinese Garden, Islamic mosaics,

26:22

Mosque and I fuckin architecture

26:25

and the painting or whatever

26:27

and I shared that bring

26:29

my inspiration. And because

26:31

this place has no precedent

26:34

so anything we do is

26:36

allowed. We failed first four

26:38

years with the laughing stock.

26:40

bad we didn't give up

26:43

and will eventually we'll build

26:45

something that is so unique

26:47

that people have not seen

26:50

before. And when you come

26:52

it's not just of beauty

26:54

is the community people come

26:56

talk to you is slight

26:59

of families. They to ask

27:01

about each other. it's welcome.

27:03

it's like and need sure

27:06

you have of fruit trees

27:08

that grow so big and

27:10

spare Flowers bear fruit and

27:13

then birds came Insects came

27:15

eventually become a nurturing community.

27:17

you know in those places

27:20

we have less to hide

27:22

behind their videos of our

27:24

well for our accomplish rooms

27:27

were more nice kid and

27:29

when. You meet to read

27:31

the it's hard to hard

27:34

nothing beats that. Eventually I

27:36

resigned from my tenure position

27:39

and then give the it

27:41

becomes you know full time

27:44

throwing into coming to building

27:46

for the i to learn

27:49

from the village I took

27:51

it all. Over. The world.

28:09

I'm in So many people. Are

28:12

probably in the middle of their lives

28:14

there trying to do something hard and

28:16

it's not going well since The Truth

28:18

has some of the best things just

28:20

to take time to build. They do

28:23

and you have that in your forties

28:25

And Bucky on this project. After four

28:27

years of it, you felt you were

28:29

still a laughing stock and yet you

28:31

continued and some rent their that? That's

28:33

amazing. I'm in every academic dreams of

28:36

tenure that as dull as the end

28:38

goal. you have that and then you'll

28:40

may feel comfortable. You turn

28:42

that down to do this?

28:45

Amazing but. I

28:47

once was your question because a lot of

28:49

people would say in a you look at

28:51

a beaten up community most he would say.

28:54

What? This community need. Ah,

28:58

Investment. In. What

29:00

You know him services and in

29:03

health care and in education, housing

29:05

abuse he. I mean come on

29:07

that that that's a luxury. Why

29:10

would you invest in that? What

29:12

would he says that. Sets

29:15

that crests whom I think

29:17

children when they since since

29:19

we look for not superficial

29:21

late but the found this

29:24

deaths so what I experience

29:26

at the beginning you know

29:28

whatever I to know anybody

29:31

and so waitress named we're

29:33

all equal everyone hunt said

29:35

build forts they can and

29:37

then we had this this

29:40

and we didn't know but

29:42

we want to build a

29:44

park. That people can

29:46

be happy there and it's

29:48

of this form as we

29:51

get better or of this

29:53

and become more be more

29:55

beautiful and what is beauties

29:58

it is not external. It

30:00

is not the value that

30:02

you can own. It's not

30:05

decorative. It is essential. It's

30:07

essential to our life. It's

30:09

not like luxury and we

30:11

saved. This place has no

30:14

resources we do not see.

30:17

We. Do not see the

30:19

hidden treasure that nice and

30:21

and lights and the ice

30:23

a fine to pair of

30:25

i with compassion to discovered

30:28

the hidden treasures. It's like

30:30

mine who sees the rough

30:32

diamonds and of gold and

30:35

silver? It's all hidden in

30:37

rocks. You know the way

30:39

we pollute our lands like

30:42

as far as send it

30:44

to so much destruction to

30:46

our lands. But we do

30:49

not see the hidden treasures.

30:51

Him broken nose, broken places,

30:54

broken people, broke places

30:56

allow opportunities. The far Post

30:58

will a new kind of

31:01

thinking. So this

31:03

is a powerful you're reminded me

31:05

of something that another to speaker

31:07

I see us to Gates when

31:10

said because he is has built

31:12

similar projects in Chicago and was

31:14

songs on this very question said

31:16

of Beauty is an essential public

31:18

good. It is a cool

31:21

part of who we are to rebuild

31:23

any kind of community that has to be

31:25

part of it. And I just I hear

31:27

the person Lillian. I had something else as

31:29

well. Where you said. Even

31:32

if some people externally thought this

31:34

project was going nowhere after four

31:36

years internally. This

31:39

was already deeply. Meaningful.

31:41

To use of it was perhaps answering

31:44

some of the questions the last this

31:46

that you spoke about and you're successful

31:48

professional artistic career. Think.

31:51

The. Broken the opportunity.

31:57

of what they have experience in

31:59

dark. This became my guide

32:02

He gave me an

32:04

opportunity I have something

32:06

about so long to

32:08

find myself and sat

32:10

through build being garden

32:12

park and their I've

32:14

found the entry to

32:16

my life. Once. You

32:18

find your life you don't

32:20

want to sit in and

32:23

doesn't live that no matter

32:25

how glorious is the is,

32:27

it's not yours. So you.

32:30

Took this. Amazing.

32:33

I. Do this this amazing vision to other

32:35

places in the world. and know

32:38

the experience that changed my

32:40

life was in Kenya i

32:42

got dearth of several ship

32:44

to be and culture ambassador

32:46

i guess and i just

32:49

good luck life introduced me

32:51

to find that are like

32:53

his and of pelley he's

32:55

a very famous kind of

32:58

with that radical a priest

33:00

see not only help the

33:02

poor he lives among the

33:04

poor his price by to

33:06

poor. I've talked about

33:09

the poverty. I had never seen

33:11

snow not fat as have ever

33:13

since. It's in that suit. Community

33:16

live recycled a lot of the

33:18

dump sites that some from all

33:20

over the world. you know that

33:23

dump sites and she lives there

33:25

and he has a church that's

33:28

the place that has was all

33:30

the other was worth of assembled

33:32

by a scattered materials and so

33:35

I say as an artist. Tools

33:37

and quickness people so they struggle.

33:40

live on the border life and

33:42

death for tonight. Do I say

33:44

I can not really well for

33:47

aids or soft problems the only

33:49

thing I can do is bring

33:51

feather and then so I started

33:53

to put to drop paints and

33:56

pain and jos Eventually we painted

33:58

a huge in June. and

34:00

make ensures unfair to live

34:03

with the people and and

34:05

the second thing was of

34:07

course from wonder I went

34:10

to the genocide survivors village

34:12

in the i saw their

34:14

phones were gathered in a

34:16

unmarked graves case in concrete

34:19

and of survivors said said

34:21

every time with pass by

34:23

the we suffered like we

34:26

were killed twice because of

34:28

bones was so thin. Watery

34:30

interpret ring season so forth

34:32

so decide to design the

34:35

genocide and them more real

34:37

for them and then they

34:39

say that you can I

34:41

just decreed them you have

34:43

to dig into the ground

34:45

to bury a bomb properly

34:48

So I was of chris

34:50

frightened because touching bones is

34:52

concerned touching the one that

34:54

so of the nation and

34:56

to Jersey but I said

34:58

your life cause. You have

35:01

to venture so again it's

35:03

like prepares said I had

35:06

the opportunities to meet to

35:08

China or wrote him bridge

35:10

building company they would building

35:13

roads and then they took

35:15

sympathy for me and helped

35:18

me to build the genocide

35:20

memorial there. In the whole

35:22

community I mobilize has some

35:25

the art of mosaics and

35:27

volunteers from this country troth.

35:30

People came skin or so

35:32

we mosaic the place. The

35:34

funny thing is that eventually

35:36

fade got so goods then

35:38

they say why you are

35:40

piles son not so even

35:42

the whole nation will com

35:44

and witness that this is

35:46

quite to intrude. Take the

35:48

back seat let us finish

35:50

it isn't That's what I

35:52

cause success and then for

35:54

three years late cherry we

35:57

have a huge serve money

35:59

with dedicated. This who

36:01

the peephole for and

36:03

the local community that

36:05

local governments for Thera

36:07

safe keeping thousand people

36:10

came as to the

36:12

dedication. They. Say

36:14

our loved ones, can

36:16

you come home Now

36:18

in Big Ten Me

36:20

and breast in this

36:22

beauty. And. So

36:24

that was a part of

36:27

that one. The healing project.

36:29

It is still going on

36:31

strong today. Twenty years I

36:34

celebrate. But. When you

36:36

talk about healing, it is

36:39

not just about the dead,

36:41

it is about the thing.

36:43

And when doesn't people are

36:46

so poor? No income? Know

36:48

what shirt know facilitates? no

36:51

hope? Know nothing. So we

36:53

started a and moved a

36:55

multi faceted projects first two

36:58

weeks and gave them coats.

37:01

And the goats they can

37:03

multiply and we've got designed

37:05

for them. We have micro

37:07

learn danish and them week

37:09

that death watched her collecting

37:11

tax so they have watch

37:13

her and we invited solar

37:15

panel of scientists and then.

37:18

Ah I heard message from

37:20

the survivors. They say that

37:23

come and visit does you

37:25

don't need to for we

37:27

we are doing fine. They.

37:30

Call me mama Literati and

37:33

I called this everything local

37:35

micro then being you know,

37:38

husbandry, whatever I cause that

37:40

the part of art. And.

37:43

The way I'd be fine

37:45

art is creativity in thing

37:48

kings and methodology. Implementation is

37:50

all art for life. Is

37:53

beautiful. Civilly,

37:56

Right now I think about. The.

37:58

Landscape in the World and. The family's.

38:01

Legacy. Today's. Into.

38:03

That slaves online culture as

38:05

bit of a broken place.

38:08

There. Is some, it's. Toxicity.

38:10

And anger and mean

38:12

this and mistrust spreading.

38:15

And. I hope I've argued. I've

38:17

believed that there is a

38:19

role for artists of all kinds

38:22

to play in this to

38:24

spread this gift of enchantment that

38:26

you have so embodied your

38:28

whole. Life. To.

38:31

Have any advice for someone

38:33

who is creative and his

38:35

trying to think about is

38:37

the something I could do

38:40

here to engage in this

38:42

form of generosity. I. Think

38:44

face. Not. To think

38:47

of see o' deficits. Not

38:50

to think about when you

38:52

see poverty not think that

38:54

what can I bring to

38:56

solve the problem ill and

38:58

then maybe think about their

39:01

a day hidden treasure when

39:03

you think about oh they

39:05

this comey t like that

39:07

survivors sooner they have nothing

39:09

quite can I bring with

39:12

them on Iran not in

39:14

terms of on money and

39:16

prep problem solve things you

39:18

know what. I learned in

39:20

university experts and so forth.

39:22

Dissolution problems at the with

39:25

them listen to their store

39:27

me and C or their

39:29

voices and be presence and

39:31

then create eight a new

39:33

space. The reason we have

39:36

so much counseling needs have

39:38

we do not have enough

39:40

space so clear we have

39:42

three kids. Hss put the

39:44

resources so space create a

39:47

new space where everybody can

39:49

come. In and bring

39:51

in not just money

39:53

material saying sauce what

39:56

we already know that

39:58

brings something unknown. Invite

40:01

everybody to chewing in

40:03

a male chill journey

40:05

to discover and to

40:07

bring and the ten

40:09

minutes and ten and

40:11

sense of joy. sense

40:13

of appreciation. Something mysterious

40:15

and suits that create

40:17

something Making music together

40:19

say star we sing

40:21

together beat drums together

40:23

to read them right

40:25

of ways that created

40:27

defense space and then

40:29

you invite. People to com

40:31

mean to join you and

40:33

then you teach them the

40:36

skill when say learns that

40:38

they continue to to do

40:40

for me as paint case

40:42

you know said Survivor's village

40:44

with transform their village by

40:47

painting simple designs that they

40:49

continued paint their dreams their

40:51

dream is has catheters and

40:53

then computers all kinds of

40:56

one to for things they

40:58

continued and eventually this pace.

41:00

Belong to the them

41:02

What is more than

41:04

been. Cracked. A

41:06

consensus process. It's

41:09

to eat natural way to spread.

41:11

Be mother. Christine but not

41:14

from toxins. From top

41:16

down if from bottom

41:18

up, All participants including

41:20

the one who initiates

41:23

in my case. The

41:25

reason I can go

41:27

on because I get

41:30

so much contentment, fulfillment,

41:32

nurture, mint, I'm in

41:34

my life and much

41:36

nothing better. Happy content.

41:40

You're proving by the way, one

41:42

of the things that as I

41:44

think not many people realize which

41:47

is that the consequence of being

41:49

willing to follow. This

41:51

journey and to immerse yourself with people

41:54

to them give what you can get.

41:56

This is what your witnesses that you've

41:58

You've found yourself, you find me, Then

42:01

you found happiness and for. Wow

42:04

that's amazing. Trade off on Sea

42:06

Lily about how many places there

42:08

are in the world today still

42:10

that are just full of in

42:12

a broken places in every city

42:14

has presents. I says this is

42:16

something that a group of people,

42:18

a group of friends. Could.

42:21

Embark on the could team up

42:23

together and make happened when you're

42:26

an amazing artist. But these projects

42:28

can bring together creativity from the

42:30

community and probably gets happening to

42:33

work. Do you wish that this

42:35

type of project was prioritize and

42:37

was allowed to. Flourish.

42:39

And blossom and grow in

42:42

every person place at that.

42:44

I am looking to you

42:46

to organize to make it

42:49

to have this day and

42:51

seat is inside the ourselves.

42:53

We always look outside for

42:55

approval. Once you find your

42:58

own life you don't need

43:00

a approval and so we

43:02

need to look internally and

43:04

will look external late for

43:07

approval because we want to

43:09

find happiness and we want

43:11

money to ensure that we

43:13

are happy. You know

43:16

the materials but I

43:18

feel that C D

43:20

and ten minutes it's

43:22

well be young. description

43:24

and it is Ain't

43:26

once in once well

43:28

being when gets happiness

43:30

and one sign joy.

43:32

And then I remembered

43:34

I there was a

43:36

project in South Sudan

43:38

years. I

43:41

have a dear friend the in the it

43:43

in cook oh to get. A it's

43:45

upside community and see said up

43:47

with your com We have teachers

43:50

want to make this a school

43:52

bureau for I said I cannot

43:54

and will Also Corona just broke

43:57

out and he said all to

43:59

bed. You know

44:01

we can do As I said

44:04

no you absolutely can do if

44:06

it doesn't take an artist with

44:08

all our artists in a different

44:11

way in our own way and

44:13

I just showed her i inspired

44:16

per square could be done in

44:18

with this as the process I

44:20

work with survivors none of us

44:23

them are painters but we just

44:25

simply throw design and paint and

44:27

eventually the teachers bit trainers. Took

44:30

over. You know you open the

44:32

door way to their own creativity.

44:35

They transform the schoolyard. He

44:37

put his takes. Is that don't

44:39

go through very precious real estate

44:42

because you do not have the

44:44

freedom go to and ignored the

44:46

place and then fortune need to

44:49

do is to skip go there

44:51

you feel pain your by to

44:54

paint you make sense of urgency

44:56

the books you listen to people

44:58

you talk to people you start

45:01

to play your drum and have

45:03

fun to away and to penis

45:05

natural late draw people in. Sign

45:08

of this silica. Anyone listening

45:10

to this is what is

45:12

for you. What

45:14

if he were inspired by nearly as

45:17

I spit and was if he were

45:19

to invite a few friends for a

45:21

meal, some other form of. Central

45:24

City Hospitals it's and was a few

45:26

to do it for the dreaming about.

45:29

Is there? A. Place

45:32

locally. That may. Be.

45:35

To. Be put to better use

45:37

was something could happen. Do

45:39

know anyone who could act

45:41

as increases to help him

45:43

take. So. Much funding. To

45:46

get guy, That's what I'm hearing.

45:48

That's what's been her experience. This

45:51

is about enabling art created by

45:53

a community. And. That

45:55

by building something like this

45:57

we can discover in assumption.

46:00

The that allowed and

46:02

our our capability. Lily,

46:04

This is the. Untold

46:06

stories the world needs to

46:08

be telling and celebrating because

46:10

it changes how. We.

46:12

Think of each other and how we think

46:14

about human personality and sizes. And to thank

46:17

you truly Lily for set the spending this

46:19

time but that's one that has a score

46:21

the you've done your nuff said and stressed.

46:24

Thank you thank you for

46:26

this opportunity to share my

46:28

story and hopefully keep the

46:30

take action. So simple.

46:36

Twelve Knots it's A now. If

46:38

you'd like to dig deeper into

46:41

this conversation about the power of

46:43

generosity, please consider reading My box

46:46

and Six Central City or listening

46:48

to it. Were able to offer

46:50

it for free to all Ted

46:53

Interviews assists thanks to a generous

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dentist. You just have to head

46:57

over to ted.com/generosity and you can

47:00

redeem either the A book or

47:02

the audiobook right? That from that

47:04

pays. Next

47:07

week was thinking with a

47:09

key figure in the effective

47:11

altruism Scottish philosopher Well Mccaskill

47:14

of a asking him about

47:16

the recent controversy and the

47:18

effect of Artemis Movement and

47:20

the ethical urgency to extend

47:22

generosity to fix his interactions.

47:26

So. The Current Views

47:28

Toss of the Ted Audio

47:30

Collectives a collection of podcasts

47:33

dedicated to sparking curiosity and

47:35

sharing ideas. That massa. This

47:37

episode was produced by Just

47:39

Saying. Our team includes Constant

47:41

Said Guy, Grace Rubenstein, Ban

47:43

Ban Chang, Michelle Quint, Roxanne,

47:46

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47:48

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47:50

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47:52

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