How Art Transforms Brokenness Into Beauty | Lily Yeh | TED

Summary

In this inspiring journey, the speaker reflects on their personal evolution from a young artist to a community-focused 'barefoot artist.' Born in China and raised in Taiwan, they explore how their passion for art transformed through various impactful projects, from Philadelphia to Rwanda to China. Through collaborations with diverse communities, they discovered the profound healing power of beauty, not as a superficial aesthetic, but as a force that unites, restores, and uplifts. The speaker calls for embracing brokenness to create transformative beauty in a world that desperately needs it.

Takeaways

• 😀 The speaker's early interest in creating art led to a lifelong passion, rooted in Chinese landscape painting and the concept of a 'Dustless World'—a place of serene beauty and spiritual tranquility.
• 😀 The speaker's journey began with fleeing China at age 7 and later studying art abroad, which eventually led to a career in academia and the art world.
• 😀 Despite achieving success as a professor and artist, the speaker felt something essential was missing in life, prompting a transformative encounter with Arthur Hall and a new project in North Philadelphia.
• 😀 Initially afraid, the speaker overcame their fears and, alongside children from a poor neighborhood, helped revitalize an abandoned lot through art projects, such as murals and sculptures.
• 😀 This small art project evolved into the Village of Arts and Humanities, a nonprofit organization that created parks, gardens, and cultural programs, demonstrating the untapped potential of communities often considered broken.
• 😀 Leaving a tenured professorship, the speaker embraced a new life path, finding wisdom and beauty in the community's resilience, which led them back to their concept of the Dustless World.
• 😀 The speaker's work expanded internationally, with a notable project in Rwanda, where they helped design and create a genocide memorial in collaboration with local survivors and construction teams.
• 😀 A survivor of the Rwandan genocide expressed how the memorial provided a sense of dignity for their loved ones, showing how beauty can inspire hope and healing.
• 😀 The speaker worked with the migrant community in China, transforming an abandoned factory into a vibrant, colorful school that served vulnerable children, emphasizing the power of art to bring joy and a sense of belonging.
• 😀 During COVID-19, the speaker helped bring joy and intimacy to a new school location in China by involving students, teachers, and volunteers in a collaborative art project that transformed the space into something magical.
• 😀 The speaker defines their role as a 'barefoot artist,' using simple tools to engage communities and transform broken places into canvases of beauty, illustrating the transformative power of art in overcoming adversity.

Q & A

What was the early inspiration for the speaker's life in art?

The speaker was inspired by their childhood interest in creating pictures of beautiful places, which later became their lifelong passion, particularly influenced by their studies in Chinese landscape painting.

How did the speaker's family history influence their journey?

The speaker's family fled from China to Taiwan when the communist regime took over the mainland. This experience of displacement shaped the speaker's worldview and connection to the concept of 'home' and belonging.

What is the 'Dustless World' and why is it significant?

The 'Dustless World' is a place described in Chinese culture as one of pristine beauty and serenity, free from self-centeredness, greed, and ignorance. It represents a spiritual realm that the speaker felt a deep connection to, and which they ultimately describe as their true home.

What prompted the speaker to leave their tenured professorship?

Despite having a successful career as a full professor, the speaker felt something essential was missing from their life. They decided to leave their tenured position to step into a more meaningful life of community involvement and creative expression.

How did the speaker initially respond to the idea of working in North Philadelphia?

Initially, the speaker was afraid and unsure about working in a neighborhood plagued by poverty, crime, and violence. They doubted their ability to make a difference, but ultimately, they felt a calling to rise to the occasion.

How did the speaker's art project in North Philadelphia evolve?

What began as a small, summer art project with children quickly grew into a larger initiative that involved the creation of murals, sculptures, gardens, parks, and even a performing arts program. Over time, it evolved into the nonprofit organization 'Village of Arts and Humanities'.

What lesson did the speaker learn from working in North Philadelphia?

The speaker learned that what the world often perceives as broken or impoverished communities are actually rich in resources, creativity, and talent. This realization led to a deeper understanding of how art can transform and revitalize communities.

How did the speaker's work extend beyond the United States?

In 2004, the speaker met Jean Bosco Musana from Rwanda and began working on the design and creation of a genocide memorial in Gisenyi, Rwanda. This project involved the local community in creating something beautiful and meaningful out of grief and loss.

What role did art play in the creation of the Rwanda genocide memorial?

Art played a central role in transforming the genocide memorial site. Through mosaic workshops and community involvement, the project not only created a memorial but also helped bring dignity and hope to the survivors, illustrating how beauty can emerge from tragedy.

What is the significance of the speaker's work with the Dandelion Middle School in China?

The speaker worked with the Dandelion Middle School, which serves children of migrant workers in China. Through art, the speaker helped transform the school's dilapidated environment into a colorful and abundant space, fostering a sense of community and belonging for the students.

How did the speaker respond to the challenges posed by the relocation of the Dandelion Middle School?

When the school relocated to a new, modern but cold and sterile building, the speaker stepped in to design a more inviting and joyful environment, drawing inspiration from the old, familiar school. The project brought warmth, color, and intimacy to the new space.

What does the speaker mean by 'barefoot artist'?

The speaker describes themselves as a 'barefoot artist,' meaning that they approach art without pretension or elitism. They carry simple art supplies and work alongside anyone willing to participate, using art to build community and create beauty in places that need it most.

What is the speaker's perspective on the role of beauty in society?

The speaker believes that people need beauty, not superficial beauty, but a deeper, transformative kind of beauty that nourishes the soul. In times of societal and environmental breakdown, beauty becomes a powerful force for healing and hope.

What is the speaker's vision for the future of art in the world?

The speaker envisions a future where art plays a transformative role in healing the brokenness in the world, whether through the revitalization of communities, the memorialization of tragic events, or the creation of beauty in places of suffering.