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- [00:00]
Vanta Representative
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- [00:59]
American Red Cross Announcer
Com TEDAUDIO this holiday season, millions of families will pack their bags, load up the car, and head off for a family vacation. But not every trip is going to be somewhere fun. The American Red Cross responds to about 7,000 emergencies during the holiday season alone, from home fires to natural disasters, providing families a safe place to go when the unthinkable happens. But they can't do it without your support. Please donate@redcross.org this podcast is brought to.
- [01:32]
WISE App Promoter
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- [02:16]
Elise Hu
You're listening to TED Talks Daily, where we bring you new ideas to spark your curiosity every day. I'm your host Elise Hunter. We are continuing to share a handful of talks, conversations and podcast episodes from the TED Archive that we hope are going to spark some inspiration in all of us as we think about the end of the year and what practices we want to bring into our lives in 2026. Today, we're sharing a talk that Reminds us to find the beauty in the cracks. Artist Lily Ye calls herself a barefoot artist. She travels the world with a suitcase full of art supplies, working with whoever wants to join her. In this deeply Moving talk from 20, she shares the fruits of her collaborative art projects that bring color, community, and beauty to public spaces often seen as broken.
- [03:11]
Lily Yeh
I remember when I was young, I liked to make pictures of beautiful places, But I didn't know that would become the passion of my life. I was born in China and grew up in Taiwan. When I was seven, my family had to flee to the island because of the communist takeover of the mainland. And at 15, I began studying Chinese landscape painting. And through the studies, I came in contact with a very special place, which is often described as the dustless world in Chinese culture. It is a place of this world, yet it reveals the mystery of the other. It is a place of pristine beauty and poignant serenity without the mental pollution of self centeredness and greed and ignorance. And eventually, it's a place I call home. Upon graduation from college. Like many people of my generation in Taiwan, we left because of tight political control then, and also because the desire for further education abroad. And so I came to the state to study art and stayed ever after in the country. Then, when I received my mfa, I had a busy and flourishing life for some time. I had a family, and I became a full professor, and I exhibited in fine galleries. And yet I felt something essential missing in my life. Then I met Arthur Hall, a preeminent dancer and choreographer, and he invited me to do a project in an abandoned lot next to his headquarters in an inner city neighborhood in North Philadelphia. And to tell you the truth, at the beginning, I was so afraid, and actually, I wanted to run away. What could a little Chinese woman do in this neighborhood, basically overtaken by poverty, crime and violence? Then the little voice in me spoke, and it says, you must rise to the occasion, otherwise the light in you will die. And so I began small at the beginning, only children came to help. They were attracted by the spades and brooms and shovels that we set up. And slowly, with donated materials, found materials, we began to make murals and sculptures and mosaics. And children's laughter and joy were infectious. And gradually drew in adults. And see, that's how we set debates to lure people in. And then everybody became happy. Over the years, we created a series of parks and gardens, Tree Farm, a performing arts program, festivals and the Rites of Passage Program, and many more. And eventually the Little Summer Art Project evolved into a nonprofit art organization called The Village of Arts and Humanities. What was surprising to me was that what the world found broken in this community actually is a treasure land full of resources, energy, talent, and creativity. And through working with people, I found what was missing in my life. I knew I had to leave my tenure professorship in order to step into my life. And the wisdom, compassion, and endurance of the community guided me home to the dustless world, that wonderful place of enchantment and profound beauty. I stayed at the village for 18 years. Then I felt the calling to bring what I have learned at the Village to places in need in the world. I established another organization called the Barefoot artists. Then in 2004, I met Giam Bosco Moussana from Rwanda in a conference in Barcelona. We began working together right away. Until now. Upon my first visit, he took me to see the Genocide memorial near his city. And the sight looked so forsaken and forlorn. I wanted to help. Then one thing led to the other. First was the design, and then the children. And then adults came, and then a construction team, and then a series of mosaic workshops, and then the completion of the Genocide Memorial. Here I want to express my deep gratitude to the survivors and their families who participated in the project despite their deep grief. And also to the China Road and Bridge Construction Company and its team, whose help was essential in converting my design to. Into reality. Then, in early spring of 2007, we dedicated the memorial to the people and the government for its safekeeping. Then, April 7, the day of national mourning. And thousands of people walk in silence for. For miles to the site. Then they would line up and descend into the bone chamber. And that's where they mourn their dead. A survivor told me that our loved ones can come home now in dignity. When we see beauty, we see hope. I wanted to work with the migrant community in the countryside in China for some time. And in 2006, I was lucky enough to join Dandelion Middle School. Its purpose is to serve the most vulnerable children of migrant workers. The school was converted from an abandoned factory, and it looks basic and bare and. And rustic. But then it's a perfect place for me and the school community to turn dilapidation into color and abundance. And through the process, we had such fun, and we have learned so much. Fifteen years later, facing demolition, the school relocated, and the new place is grand and modern, but cold and harsh. And so students felt estranged and unhappy. So I stepped in and created the design reminiscent of the gentleness in the old school. And together again with the students and teachers, we brought color, joy and intimacy to this new setting. During COVID I created this design, the rainbow and the tree of life for Dandelion Just last fall. In a period of 59 days and with the participation of 913 teachers, students and volunteers, we with our unskilled hands, but with utter dedication, together we made something beyond our own expectation and something magical. And then the process, when the day is finished and we become drunk with exaltation and happiness and the process. And the process unified us into one. What a deep experience. And over the years I have come to see myself as a barefoot artist. My method is very simple. I have a bag full of art supplies and I would go to places in need and work with whoever come and join me. Together we play and create. And over the different project and experiences, I come to realize that broken places are my canvases and people's stories. The palette and people's imagination and talent and the tool tools for new inventions. Together we envision and transform. And I also come to realize a fundamental truth. People need beauty. Not the superficial beauty, but the profound and transformative beauty. Beauty. It is like fire in a dark winter's night. It is the beauty that our soul yearns for. Our world is so broken today with the violent wars, with massive extinction of species and profound, profound human suffering. And we need this vision and energy. The beauty. Now more than ever. May we rise to embrace the broken. When act together, I know we will have the power to transform far and wide the brokenness into beauty.
- [16:19]
Elise Hu
That was Lily Yeh at TED 2024. If you're curious about TED's curation, find out more@ted.com curationguidelines and that's it for today. TED Talks Daily is part of the TED Audio Collective. This talk was fact checked by the TED research team and produced and edited by our team, Martha Estefanos, Oliver Friedman, Brian Greene, Lucy Little and Tansika Songmanivong. This episode was mixed by Christopher Faizy Bogan. Additional support from Emma Tobner and Daniela Balaurazo. I'm Elise Hu. I'll be back tomorrow with a fresh idea for your feed. Thanks for listening.
- [17:06]
American Red Cross Announcer
This holiday season, millions of families will pack their bags, load up the car, and head off for a family vacation. But not every trip is going to be somewhere fun. The American Red Cross responds to about 7,000 emergencies during the holiday season alone, from home fires to natural disasters, providing families a safe place to go when the unthinkable happens. But they can't do it without your support. Please donate@redcross.org if you're an H Vac.
- [17:38]
Grainger Advertiser
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- [18:06]
Equip Health Representative
We live in a culture obsessed with dieting, weight loss and exercise, and that can make eating disorder behaviors easy to miss. But the reality is eating disorders are serious mental illnesses that take a major toll on your health and your life. But recovery is possible. Eating disorders are more common than you might think. Chances are you know someone who is struggling with one, or maybe you're struggling yourself. If you're concerned about an eating disorder in yourself or a loved one, I want to introduce you to equip. Equip is a fully virtual evidence based eating disorder treatment program that helps patients achieve lasting recovery at home. Every EQIP patient is matched with a multidisciplinary care team that includes a therapist, dietitian, medical provider and mentors. And you get a personalized treatment plan that's tailored to your unique goals and challenges. EQIP treats patients of all ages and all eating disorder diagnoses. It's covered by insurance and there's no wait list. If you think that you or a loved one could be struggling with an eating disorder, don't wait to get help. Visit Equip Health to learn more. That's Equip Health.