Podcasts by TED Talks Art
Some of the world's greatest artists, designers, photographers and architects showcase their work and visions onstage at the TED conference, TEDx events and partner events around the world. You can also download these and many other videos free on TED.com, with an interactive English transcript and subtitles in up to 80 languages. TED is a nonprofit devoted to Ideas Worth Spreading.
Further podcasts by TED
Podcast on the topic Kunst
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How film captures the space between hope and despair | Mounia Akl from 2022-02-08T20:48:27
When Lebanon was rocked by a massive explosion at the port of Beirut, filmmaker Mounia Akl came face-to-face with chaos -- and the power of art to create some sense of order. In this poetic, moving...
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The mind-bending art of deep time | Katie Paterson from 2022-01-28T15:47:42
Short-sightedness may be the greatest threat to humanity, says conceptual artist Katie Paterson, whose work engages with deep time -- an idea that describes the history of the Earth over a time spa...
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How comic strips create better health care | Sam Hester from 2022-01-12T16:19:50
Comics creator Sam Hester is part of a growing movement within health care: graphic medicine. In short, literally drawing attention to a patient's needs and goals with pictures to foster better and...
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"Being Human" | Naima Penniman from 2021-11-10T21:44:20
In this stunning spoken-word performance, poet and "freedom-forging futurist" Naima Penniman celebrates the wonders of the natural world and humanity's connection to it. "I wonder if the sun debate...
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The many reasons to eat a plant-based diet | Derek Sarno from 2021-11-10T20:58:56
Vegan chef (and head chef of TED Countdown Summit) Derek Sarno is on a mission to unleash the mighty power of plants, creating nutritious food from mushrooms and vegetables that's full of texture a...
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The mighty power and flavor of plants | Derek Sarno from 2021-11-10T20:58:56
Vegan chef (and head chef of TED Countdown Summit) Derek Sarno is on a mission to unleash the mighty power of plants, creating nutritious food from mushrooms and vegetables that's full...
The art of paying attention | Wendy MacNaughton from 2021-09-23T14:51:16
In an invitation to slow down and look at the world around you, graphic journalist Wendy MacNaughton illustrates how drawing can spark deeply human, authentic connections. Ready to try? Grab a penc...
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Why are stolen African artifacts still in Western museums? | Jim Chuchu from 2021-08-09T14:48:15
African artifacts shown in museums worldwide are often not borrowed, but stolen -- and TED Fellow Jim Chuchu is on a mission to get them back. Learn the sordid history behind how many of the collec...
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Documentary films that explore trauma -- and make space for healing | Almudena Toral from 2021-05-24T17:31:16
Through documentary films following survivors of trauma, TED Fellow Almudena Toral makes invisible psychological scars seen. She shares the heartbreaking story of Adayanci Pérez, a six-year-old gir...
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What should humans take to space (and leave behind)? | Jorge Mañes Rubio from 2021-05-24T13:21:21
One day, humans will explore space en masse and live scattered across the solar system on planets like Mars and beyond. Inspired by his time as artist-in-residence at the European Space Agency, TED...
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Playful, wondrous public spaces built for community and possibility | Matthew Mazzotta from 2021-05-24T13:16:41
Introducing a new type of public space, custom-fit for communities in need of a shot of hope and wonder. Artist and TED Fellow Matthew Mazzotta takes us across the US, sharing delightful projects t...
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To accomplish great things, you need to "let the paint dry" | Daniel J. Watts from 2021-04-26T15:11:12
As theaters closed in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, the creatives who populated their stages were plunged into a state of seemingly endless uncertainty. Aided by a delightful and metaphoric...
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How theater weathers wars, outlasts empires and survives pandemics | Cara Greene Epstein from 2021-02-17T16:06:44
When catastrophe strikes, art prevails -- and has done so for centuries. In this fascinating talk, writer and director Cara Greene Epstein places the closing of theaters during the cor...
When the world is burning, is art a waste of time? | R. Alan Brooks from 2021-02-01T16:13:42
Is art worth it? "Hell yeah," says graphic novelist R. Alan Brooks -- art has the power to scare dictators, inspire multitudes and change hearts and minds across the world. Reflecting on his journe...
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How artists can (finally) get paid in the digital age | Jack Conte from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
It's been a weird 100 years for artists and creators, says musician and entrepreneur Jack Conte. The traditional ways we've turned art into money (like record sales) have been broken by th...
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Inside Africa's thriving art scene | Touria El Glaoui from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
Art fair curator Touria El Glaoui is on a mission to showcase vital new art from African nations and the diaspora. She shares beautiful, inspiring, thrilling contemporary art that tells po...
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"Interpassion" / "Ba$$in" | Yelle from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
Yelle and GrandMarnier bring their danceable electropop hits to the TED stage in an energizing performance of two songs, "Interpassion" and "Ba$$in."
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How a strong creative industry helps economies thrive | Mehret Mandefro from 2021-01-19T15:55:37
When global leaders think about which industries can fuel economic growth, the arts are often overlooked. But filmmaker Mehret Mandefro says the creative sector actually has the power to grow econo...
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How creative writing can help you through life's hardest moments | Sakinah Hofler from 2020-12-09T17:40:21
Have you ever seen or experienced something and wished you spoke up? Writer Sakinah Hofler makes the case for writing as a tool to help you process difficult memories and reclaim the power they may...
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An illustrated kingdom of real, fantastical plants | Nirupa Rao from 2020-10-05T15:07:05
Botanical artist Nirupa Rao captures the spirit and beauty of nature in watercolor. With a portfolio of enchanting, scientifically accurate illustrations, she aims to reignite our emotional connect...
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Art in the age of machine intelligence | Refik Anadol from 2020-08-18T14:52:38
What does it look like inside the mind of a machine? Inspired by the architectural vision of a futuristic Los Angeles in "Blade Runner," media artist Refik Anadol melds art with artificial intellig...
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Give yourself permission to be creative | Ethan Hawke from 2020-07-23T14:50:06
Reflecting on moments that shaped his life, actor Ethan Hawke examines how courageous expression promotes healing and connection with one another -- and invites you to discover your own unabashed c...
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The transformative role of art during the pandemic | Anne Pasternak from 2020-07-08T14:48:12
Museums are vessels of memory, knowledge, inspiration and dreams. Anne Pasternak, director of the Brooklyn Museum, makes the case for cultural institutions to take a leading role in supporting the ...
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How Dolly Parton led me to an epiphany | Jad Abumrad from 2020-06-25T19:51:44
How do you end a story? Host of "Radiolab" Jad Abumrad tells how his search for an answer led him home to the mountains of Tennessee, where he met an unexpected teacher: Dolly Parton.
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How to support and celebrate living artists | Swizz Beatz from 2020-06-24T18:55:01
Legendary hip-hop producer Swizz Beatz is on a mission to revolutionize the way artists do business. In this glorious talk, he shares some of the ways he's helping fellow creatives thrive, includin...
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How drawing can set you free | Shantell Martin from 2020-06-12T14:55:36
Who are you? To answer this question, artist Shantell Martin followed her pen. In this brilliantly visual talk featuring her signature freestyle line work -- drawn across everything from the screen...
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How to meaningfully reconnect with those who have dementia | Anne Basting from 2020-05-21T15:02:42
By incorporating art and creativity into elder care settings, gerontologist Anne Basting helps families reconnect with loved ones who have dementia. In this moving talk, she shares how...
An ode to living on Earth | Oliver Jeffers from 2020-04-22T17:03:40
If you had to explain to a newborn what it means to be a human being living on Earth in the 21st century, what would you say? Visual artist Oliver Jeffers put his answer in a letter to his son, sha...
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Go ahead, dream about the future | Charlie Jane Anders from 2020-03-20T14:50:16
"You don't predict the future -- you imagine the future," says sci-fi writer Charlie Jane Anders. In a talk that's part dream, part research-based extrapolation, she takes us on a wild, speculative...
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Art that reveals how technology frames reality | Jiabao Li from 2020-03-04T15:55:07
In a talk that could change how you see things, designer and artist Jiabao Li introduces her conceptual projects that expose the inherent bias of digital media. From a helmet that makes you "allerg...
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How bumble bees inspired a network of tiny museums | Amanda Schochet from 2020-02-27T15:55:22
Sometimes, small things make a huge impact. After studying how bees in urban environments can survive by navigating small land patches, ecologist Amanda Schochet was inspired to build MICRO, a netw...
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How volumetric video brings a new dimension to filmmaking | Diego Prilusky from 2020-02-21T15:53:11
In this talk and tech demo, filmmaker Diego Prilusky introduces the next chapter in moviemaking: volumetric video, a 360-degree experience powered by hundreds of cameras that capture light and moti...
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How symbols and brands shape our humanity | Debbie Millman from 2020-02-14T15:57:52
"Branding is the profound manifestation of the human spirit," says designer and podcaster Debbie Millman. In a historical odyssey that she illustrated herself, Millman traces the evolution of brand...
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Imaginative sculptures that explore how we perceive reality | Alicia Eggert from 2020-02-10T16:00:18
TED Fellow Alicia Eggert takes us on a visual tour of her work -- from a giant sculpture on an uninhabited island in Maine to an installation that inflates only when people hold hands to complete a...
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Dictators hate political cartoons -- so I keep drawing them | Rayma Suprani from 2020-01-31T16:15:37
"A political cartoon is a barometer of freedom," says Rayma Suprani, who was exiled from her native Venezuela for publishing work critical of the government. "That's why dictators hate cartoonists....
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Does photographing a moment steal the experience from you? | Erin Sullivan from 2020-01-23T15:58:39
When we witness something amazing, many of us instinctively pull out our phones and snap pictures. Is this obsession with photographing everything impacting our experiences? In a meditative talk, E...
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A swarm of mini drones makes ... magic! | Marco Tempest from 2020-01-10T20:46:26
Leading a swarm of small, buzzing flying machines, techno-magician Marco Tempest orchestrates a "cyber illusion" that will have you asking yourself: Was that science or magic?
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A video game that helps us understand loneliness | Cornelia Geppert from 2019-12-05T15:59:53
Step into artist Cornelia Geppert's visually stunning video game "Sea of Solitude," which explores how battling the "monsters" of loneliness and self-doubt can help us better grapple with the compl...
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How I use art to tackle plastic pollution in our oceans | Alejandro Durán from 2019-12-02T15:54:42
Alejandro Durán uses art to spotlight the ongoing destruction of our oceans' ecosystems. In this breathtaking talk, he shows how he meticulously organizes and reuses plastic waste from around the w...
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Why I draw with robots | Sougwen Chung from 2019-11-25T15:50:53
What happens when humans and robots make art together? In this awe-inspiring talk, artist Sougwen Chung shows how she "taught" her artistic style to a machine -- and shares the results of their col...
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A historical musical that examines black identity in the 1901 World's Fair | Amma Y. Ghartey-Tagoe Kootin from 2019-11-08T16:03:09
In this lively talk and performance, artist and TED Fellow Amma Y. Ghartey-Tagoe Kootin offers a sneak peek of her forthcoming musical "At Buffalo." Drawing on archival material from t...
Urban architecture inspired by mountains, clouds and volcanoes | Ma Yansong from 2019-11-07T20:51:46
Taking inspiration from nature, architect Ma Yansong designs breathtaking buildings that break free from the boxy symmetry of so many modern cities. His exuberant and graceful work -- from a pair o...
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Why we need more (real) science in fiction | Alexis Gambis from 2019-10-25T14:58:59
Filmmaker, biologist and TED Fellow Alexis Gambis makes films grounded in fact, straddling the genres of experimental, documentary and fiction. Showing clips of his work, Gambis demonstrates how st...
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How we experience awe -- and why it matters | Beau Lotto and Cirque du Soleil from 2019-10-25T14:56:04
Neuroscientist Beau Lotto conducted an ambitious study with Cirque du Soleil on the emotion of awe and its psychological and behavioral benefits. In this talk and live performance, he shares some o...
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The pride and power of representation in film | Jon M. Chu from 2019-10-23T19:49:08
On the heels of the breakout success of his film "Crazy Rich Asians," director Jon M. Chu reflects on what drives him to create -- and makes a resounding case for the power of connection and on-scr...
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Fashion that celebrates all body types -- boldly and unapologetically | Becca McCharen-Tran from 2019-10-22T14:49:19
Fashion designers have the power to change culture -- and Becca McCharen-Tran is using her platform to expand the industry's narrow definition of beauty. Sharing highlights of her work, McCharen-Tr...
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How we experience time and memory through art | Sarah Sze from 2019-09-30T14:52:14
Artist Sarah Sze takes us on a kaleidoscopic journey through her work: immersive installations as tall as buildings, splashed across walls, orbiting through galleries -- blurring the lines between ...
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What streaming means for the future of entertainment | Emmett Shear from 2019-09-16T14:56:07
In a talk and demo, Twitch cofounder Emmett Shear shares his vision for the future of interactive entertainment -- and explains how video game streaming is helping people build communities online. ...
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"Stumbling towards intimacy": An improvised TED Talk | Anthony Veneziale from 2019-09-04T19:52:41
In a hilarious, completely improvised talk, improv master Anthony Veneziale takes to the TED stage for a truly one-of-a-kind performance. Armed with an audience-suggested topic ("stumbling towards ...
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Can we choose to fall out of love? | Dessa from 2019-08-29T14:51:04
What's the best way to get over heartbreak? Rapper and writer Dessa came up with an unconventional approach after a chance viewing of Helen Fisher's TED Talk about the brains of the lovestruck. In ...
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How craving attention makes you less creative | Joseph Gordon-Levitt from 2019-08-20T14:49:42
Joseph Gordon-Levitt has gotten more than his fair share of attention from his acting career. But as social media exploded over the past decade, he got addicted like the rest of us -- trying to gai...
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The architectural wonder of impermanent cities | Rahul Mehrotra from 2019-07-22T14:52:10
Every 12 years, a megacity springs up in India for the Kumbh Mela religious festival -- what's built in ten weeks is completely disassembled in one. What can we learn from this fully functioning, t...
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How a typeface helped launch Apollo | Douglas Thomas from 2019-07-19T14:52:48
When humanity first landed on the moon in 1969, the typeface Futura was right there with them. In this fascinating history of typography, designer Douglas Thomas shares Futura's role in launching t...
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Mentalism, mind reading and the art of getting inside your head | Derren Brown from 2019-07-16T14:47:36
"Magic is a great analogy for how we edit reality and form a story -- and then mistake that story for the truth," says psychological illusionist Derren Brown. In a clever talk wrapped around a dazz...
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How film transforms the way we see the world | Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy from 2019-07-12T14:50:38
Film has the power to change the way we think about ourselves and our culture. Documentarian and TED Fellow Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy uses it to fight violence against women, turning her camera on the ...
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Architectural secrets of the world's ancient wonders | Brandon Clifford from 2019-06-21T14:55:54
How did ancient civilizations move massive stones to build Stonehenge, the Pyramids and the Easter Island statues? In this quick, delightful talk, TED Fellow Brandon Clifford reveals some architect...
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"A Bird Made of Birds" | Sarah Kay from 2019-06-21T12:44:12
"The universe has already written the poem you were planning on writing," says Sarah Kay, quoting her friend, poet Kaveh Akbar. Performing "A Bird Made of Birds," she shares how and where she finds...
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Floating cities, the LEGO House and other architectural forms of the future | Bjarke Ingels from 2019-06-03T14:44:20
Design gives form to the future, says architect Bjarke Ingels. In this worldwide tour of his team's projects, journey to a waste-to-energy power plant (that doubles as an alpine ski slope) and the ...
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Mind-blowing stage sculptures that fuse music and technology | Es Devlin from 2019-05-03T14:49:35
It starts with a sketch. Then it evolves into a larger-than-life visual masterpiece, a celebration of human connection. Follow along as legendary artist and designer Es Devlin takes us on a visual ...
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Three ideas. Three contradictions. Or not. | Hannah Gadsby from 2019-04-29T18:39:15
Hannah Gadsby's groundbreaking special "Nanette" broke comedy. In a talk about truth and purpose, she shares three ideas and three contradictions. Or not.
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Public art that turns cities into playgrounds of the imagination | Helen Marriage from 2019-04-03T14:53:47
Visual artist Helen Marriage stages astonishing, large-scale public art events that expand the boundaries of what's possible. In this visual tour of her work, she tells the story of three cities sh...
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Why I turned Chicago's abandoned homes into art | Amanda Williams from 2019-03-19T14:40:47
Amanda Williams shares her lifelong fascination with the complexity of color: from her experiences with race and redlining to her discovery of color theory to her work as a visual artist. Journey w...
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Stunning buildings made from raw, imperfect materials | Débora Mesa Molina from 2019-01-24T18:35:52
What would it take to reimagine the limits of architecture? Débora Mesa Molina offers some answers in this breathtaking, visual tour of her work, showing how structures can be made with overlooked ...
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Museums should honor the everyday, not just the extraordinary | Ariana Curtis from 2018-12-21T15:46:35
Who deserves to be in a museum? For too long, the answer has been "the extraordinary" -- those aspirational historymakers who inspire us with their successes. But those stories are limiting, says m...
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A lesson on looking | Amy Herman from 2018-12-06T15:40:55
Are you looking closely? Visual educator Amy Herman explains how to use art to enhance your powers of perception and find connections where they may not be apparent. Learn the techniques Herman use...
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The story of Marvel's first queer Latina superhero | Gabby Rivera from 2018-11-29T15:56:18
With Marvel's "America Chavez," Gabby Rivera wrote a new kind of superhero -- one who can punch portals into other dimensions while also embracing her gentle, goofy, soft side. In a funny, personal...
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How I accidentally changed the way movies get made | Franklin Leonard from 2018-11-07T15:48:23
How does Hollywood choose what stories get told on-screen? Too often, it's groupthink informed by a narrow set of ideas about what sells at the box office. As a producer, Franklin Leonard saw too m...
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My quest to defy gravity and fly | Elizabeth Streb from 2018-10-25T14:50:14
Over the course of her fearless career, extreme action specialist Elizabeth Streb has pushed the limits of the human body. She's jumped through broken glass, toppled from great heights and built gi...
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3 ways to create a space that moves you, from a Broadway set designer | David Korins from 2018-10-09T19:53:56
You don't have to work on Broadway to design a set, says creative director David Korins -- you can be the set designer of any space in your life. Sharing insights from his work on hits like "Hamilt...
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Intimate photos of a senior love triangle | Isadora Kosofsky from 2018-09-28T14:53:15
Photographer and TED Fellow Isadora Kosofsky is a chronicler of love, loss and loneliness. In this searching talk, she shares photos from her four years documenting the lives of a senior citizen lo...
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"Chasms" | Asali DeVan Ecclesiastes from 2018-09-28T12:37:56
Writer and activist Asali DeVan Ecclesiastes lights up the stage with a powerful poem about hope, truth and the space between who we are and who we want to be.
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How to build a thriving music scene in your city | Elizabeth Cawein from 2018-09-27T14:58:45
How does a city become known as a "music city"? Publicist Elizabeth Cawein explains how thriving music scenes make cities healthier and happier and shares ideas for bolstering your local music scen...
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"Wild Women" | Sunni Patterson from 2018-08-31T12:57:57
With lightning on her tongue, Sunni Patterson performs her powerful poem, "Wild Women," accompanied by the entrancing moves of dancer Chanice Holmes.
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Why art thrives at Burning Man | Nora Atkinson from 2018-08-28T14:47:54
Craft curator Nora Atkinson takes us on a trip to Nevada's Black Rock Desert to see the beautifully designed and participatory art of Burning Man, revealing how she discovered there what's often mi...
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How art can shape America's conversation about freedom | Dread Scott from 2018-08-27T14:54:26
In this quick talk, visual artist Dread Scott tells the story of one of his most transgressive art installations, which drew national attention for its controversial use of the American flag and le...
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You are fluent in this language (and don't even know it) | Christoph Niemann from 2018-07-27T14:43:04
Without realizing it, we're fluent in the language of pictures, says illustrator Christoph Niemann. In a charming talk packed with witty, whimsical drawings, Niemann takes us on a hilarious visual ...
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The genius behind some of the world's most famous buildings | Renzo Piano from 2018-07-13T15:27:42
Legendary architect Renzo Piano -- the mind behind such indelible buildings as The Shard in London, the Centre Pompidou in Paris and the new Whitney Museum of Art in New York City -- takes us on a ...
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The symbols of systemic racism -- and how to take away their power | Paul Rucker from 2018-06-26T19:55:21
Multidisciplinary artist and TED Fellow Paul Rucker is unstitching the legacy of systemic racism in the United States. A collector of artifacts connected to the history of slavery -- from branding ...
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Why theater is essential to democracy | Oskar Eustis from 2018-06-04T15:01:12
Truth comes from the collision of different ideas, and theater plays an essential role in showing us that truth, says legendary artistic director Oskar Eustis. In this powerful talk, Eustis outline...
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Visions of Africa's future, from African filmmakers | Dayo Ogunyemi from 2018-04-24T19:58:42
By expanding boundaries, exploring possibilities and conveying truth, films have helped change Africa's reality (even before "Black Panther"). Dayo Ogunyemi invites us to imagine Africa's future th...
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How the arts help homeless youth heal and build | Malika Whitley from 2018-04-11T20:49:12
Malika Whitley is the founder of ChopArt, an organization for homeless teens focused on mentorship, dignity and opportunity through the arts. In this moving, personal talk, she shares her story of ...
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How I use art to bridge misunderstanding | Adong Judith from 2018-03-19T20:03:55
Director and playwright Adong Judith creates provocative art that sparks dialogue on issues from LGBTQ rights to war crimes. In this quick but powerful talk, the TED Fellow details her work -- incl...
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Why must artists be poor? | Hadi Eldebek from 2018-03-15T19:47:51
The arts bring meaning to our lives and spirit to our culture -- so why do we expect artists to struggle to make a living? Hadi Eldebek is working to create a society where artists are valued thro...
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The radical beauty of Africa, in portraits | Iké Udé from 2018-03-12T14:33:38
Throughout his colorful career and bodies of work, Iké Udé has found creative ways to reject the negative portrayal of Africans rampant in Western media. In this tour of his work, he shares evocati...
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How fashion helps us express who we are -- and what we stand for | Kaustav Dey from 2018-03-06T20:53:47
No one thinks twice about a woman wearing blue jeans in New York City -- but when Nobel laureate Malala wears them, it's a political act. Around the globe, individuality can be a crime, and clothin...
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What soccer can teach us about freedom | Marc Bamuthi Joseph from 2018-03-05T20:56:19
"Soccer is the only thing on this planet that we can all agree to do together," says theater maker and TED Fellow Marc Bamuthi Joseph. Through his performances and an engagement initiative called "...
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3 creative ways to fix fashion's waste problem | Amit Kalra from 2018-02-15T20:55:22
What happens to the clothes we don't buy? You might think that last season's coats, trousers and turtlenecks end up being put to use, but most of it (nearly 13 million tons each year in the United ...
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Fashion that celebrates African strength and spirit | Walé Oyéjidé from 2018-02-15T15:58:18
"To be African is to be inspired by culture and to be filled with undying hope for the future," says designer and TED Fellow Walé Oyéjidé. With his label Ikiré Jones (you'll see their work in Marve...
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How architecture can create dignity for all | John Cary from 2018-02-07T15:54:42
If architect and writer John Cary has his way, women will never need to stand in pointlessly long bathroom lines again. Lines like these are representative of a more serious issue, Cary says: the l...
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Photos of Africa, taken from a flying lawn chair | George Steinmetz from 2018-01-24T15:54:31
George Steinmetz's spectacular photos show Africa from the air, taken from the world's slowest, lightest aircraft. Join Steinmetz to discover the surprising historical, ecological and sociopolitica...
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Want to change the world? Start by being brave enough to care | Cleo Wade from 2018-01-19T15:52
Artist and poet Cleo Wade recites a moving poem about being an advocate for love and acceptance in a time when both seem in short supply. Woven between stories of people at the beginning and end of...
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The search for "aha!" moments | Matt Goldman from 2018-01-16T15:53:49
In 1988, Matt Goldman co-founded Blue Man Group, an off-Broadway production that became a sensation known for its humor, blue body paint and wild stunts. The show works on the premise that certain ...
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How adaptive clothing empowers people with disabilities | Mindy Scheier from 2018-01-09T15:58:23
Do you have a favorite T-shirt or pair of jeans that transforms you and makes you feel confident -- makes you feel like you? That's because what you wear can affect your mood, your health and your ...
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The next generation of African architects and designers | Christian Benimana from 2017-12-21T15:23:26
Christian Benimana wants to build a network of architects who can help Africa's booming cities flourish in sustainable, equitable ways -- balancing growth with values that are uniquely African. Fro...
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The gift of words | Javed Akhtar from 2017-12-18T15:42:15
"Do you know what I mean?" Legendary poet, lyricist and screenwriter Javed Akhtar asks why we seem to be losing our power to use words -- and inspires us to better understand and communicate with o...
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What makes something go viral? | Dao Nguyen from 2017-12-07T16:01:43
What's the secret to making content people love? Join BuzzFeed's Publisher Dao Nguyen for a glimpse at how her team creates their tempting quizzes, lists and videos -- and learn more about how they...
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The secret language of letter design | Martina Flor from 2017-12-05T20:55:24
Look at the letters around you: on street signs, stores, restaurant menus, the covers of books. Whether you realize it or not, the letters are speaking to you, telling you something beyond the lite...
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Why do I make art? To build time capsules for my heritage | Kayla Briët from 2017-11-17T16:04:20
Kayla Briët creates art that explores identity and self-discovery -- and the fear that her culture may someday be forgotten. She shares how she found her creative voice and reclaimed the stories of...
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Sci-fi stories that imagine a future Africa | Nnedi Okorafor from 2017-11-01T15:14:36
"My science fiction has different ancestors -- African ones," says writer Nnedi Okorafor. In between excerpts from her "Binti" series and her novel "Lagoon," Okorafor discusses the inspiration and ...
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The future of storytelling | Shonda Rhimes and Cyndi Stivers from 2017-10-30T15:09:38
"We all feel a compelling need to watch stories, to tell stories ... to discuss the things that tell each one of us that we are not alone in the world," says TV titan Shonda Rhimes. A dominant forc...
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Portraits that transform people into whatever they want to be | Uldus Bakhtiozina from 2017-10-19T14:54:18
With her gorgeous, haunting photographs, artist Uldus Bakhtiozina documents dreams, working with daily life as she imagines it could be. She creates everything in her work by hand -- from costumes ...
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The forgotten art of the zoetrope | Eric Dyer from 2017-10-10T19:59:52
Artist Eric Dyer spent years working at a computer to produce images for the screen. Longing to get his hands back on his work, he began exploring the zoetrope, a popular 19th-century device that w...
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Living sculptures that stand for history's truths | Sethembile Msezane from 2017-09-15T15:08:13
In the century-old statues that occupy Cape Town, Sethembile Mzesane didn't see anything that looked like her own reality. So she became a living sculpture herself, standing for hours on end in pub...
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How your pictures can help reclaim lost history | Chance Coughenour from 2017-08-31T19:23:56
Digital archaeologist Chance Coughenour is using pictures -- your pictures -- to reclaim antiquities that have been lost to conflict and disaster. After crowdsourcing photographs of destroyed monum...
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Fun, fierce and fantastical African art | Wanuri Kahiu from 2017-08-29T14:36:36
We're so used to narratives out of Africa being about war, poverty and devastation, says TED Fellow Wanuri Kahiu. Where's the fun? Introducing "AfroBubbleGum" -- African art that's vib...
"The Sacred Art of the Ori" | Laolu Senbanjo from 2017-08-25T14:57:57
Every artist has a name, and every artist has a story. Laolu Senbanjo's story started in Nigeria, where he was surrounded by the culture and mythology of the Yoruba, and brought him to law school, ...
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A lyrical bridge between past, present and future | David Whyte from 2017-08-23T14:55:47
With his signature charm and searching insight, David Whyte meditates on the frontiers of the past, present and future, sharing two poems inspired by his niece's hike along El Camino de Santiago de...
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7 principles for building better cities | Peter Calthorpe from 2017-08-17T14:53:23
More than half of the world's population already lives in cities, and another 2.5 billion people are projected to move to urban areas by 2050. The way we build new cities will be at the heart of so...
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A dance to honor Mother Earth | Jon Boogz and Lil Buck from 2017-08-11T10:56:02
Movement artists Jon Boogz and Lil Buck debut "Honor thy mother," a delicate, powerful performance of spoken word, violin and dance that draws on the tormented relationship between nature and human...
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How your brain decides what is beautiful | Anjan Chatterjee from 2017-08-08T14:40:37
Anjan Chatterjee uses tools from evolutionary psychology and cognitive neuroscience to study one of nature's most captivating concepts: beauty. Learn more about the science behind why ...
The stories behind The New Yorker's iconic covers | Françoise Mouly from 2017-08-03T14:24:04
Meet Françoise Mouly, The New Yorker's art director. For the past 24 years, she's helped decide what appears on the magazine's famous cover, from the black-on-black depiction of the Twin Towers the...
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Can art amend history? | Titus Kaphar from 2017-08-01T15:01:50
Artist Titus Kaphar makes paintings and sculptures that wrestle with the struggles of the past while speaking to the diversity and advances of the present. In an unforgettable live workshop, Kaphar...
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How cohousing can make us happier (and live longer) | Grace Kim from 2017-07-24T14:52:37
Loneliness doesn't always stem from being alone. For architect Grace Kim, loneliness is a function of how socially connected we feel to the people around us -- and it's often the result of the home...
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Why design should include everyone | Sinéad Burke from 2017-06-21T15:03:28
Sinéad Burke is acutely aware of details that are practically invisible to many of us. At 105 centimeters (or 3' 5") tall, the designed world -- from the height of a lock to the range of available ...
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12 truths I learned from life and writing | Anne Lamott from 2017-06-09T15:06:36
A few days before she turned 61, writer Anne Lamott decided to write down everything she knew for sure. She dives into the nuances of being a human who lives in a confusing, beautiful, emotional wo...
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Why glass towers are bad for city life -- and what we need instead | Justin Davidson from 2017-06-06T14:58:44
There's a creepy transformation taking over our cities, says architecture critic Justin Davidson. From Houston, Texas to Guangzhou, China, shiny towers of concrete and steel covered with glass are ...
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Poetry, music and identity | Jorge Drexler from 2017-05-10T15:15:23
One night in 2002, a friend gave Jorge Drexler the chorus to a song and challenged him to write the rest of it using a complex, poetic form known as the "Décima." In this fascinating talk, Drexler ...
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How do you build a sacred space? | Siamak Hariri from 2017-04-17T14:48:33
To design the Bahá'í Temple of South America, architect Siamak Hariri focused on illumination -- from the temple's form, which captures the movement of the sun throughout the day, to the iridescent...
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A young poet tells the story of Darfur | Emtithal Mahmoud from 2017-03-31T15:12:16
Emtithal "Emi" Mahmoud writes poetry of resilience, confronting her experience of escaping the genocide in Darfur in verse. She shares two stirring original poems about refugees, famil...
Should we simplify spelling? | Karina Galperin from 2017-03-16T15:00:10
How much energy and brain power do we devote to learning how to spell? Language evolves over time, and with it the way we spell -- is it worth it to spend so much time memorizing rules that are fil...
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Beautiful new words to describe obscure emotions | John Koenig from 2017-03-10T16:01:47
John Koenig loves finding words that express our unarticulated feelings -- like "lachesism," the hunger for disaster, and "sonder," the realization that everyone else's lives are as complex and unk...
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The data behind Hollywood's sexism | Stacy Smith from 2017-02-24T15:50:04
Where are all the women and girls in film? Social scientist Stacy Smith analyzes how the media underrepresents and portrays women -- and the potentially destructive effects those portrayals have on...
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Buildings that blend nature and city | Jeanne Gang from 2017-01-24T16:13:03
A skyscraper that channels the breeze ... a building that creates community around a hearth ... Jeanne Gang uses architecture to build relationships. In this engaging tour of her work, Gang invites...
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Art made of the air we breathe | Emily Parsons-Lord from 2017-01-19T15:57:51
Emily Parsons-Lord re-creates air from distinct moments in Earth's history -- from the clean, fresh-tasting air of the Carboniferous period to the soda-water air of the Great Dying to the heavy, to...
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How loss helped one artist find beauty in imperfection | Alyssa Monks from 2016-10-26T15:05:59
Painter Alyssa Monks finds beauty and inspiration in the unknown, the unpredictable and even the awful. In a poetic, intimate talk, she describes the interaction of life, paint and canvas through h...
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Ballroom dance that breaks gender roles | Trevor Copp and Jeff Fox from 2016-10-14T14:59:07
Tango, waltz, foxtrot ... these classic ballroom dances quietly perpetuate an outdated idea: that the man always leads and the woman always follows. That's an idea worth changing, say Trevor Copp a...
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Art can heal PTSD's invisible wounds | Melissa Walker from 2016-10-12T15:09:02
Trauma silences its victims, says creative arts therapist Melissa Walker, but art can help those suffering from the psychological wounds of war begin to open up and heal. In this inspi...
The spellbinding art of human anatomy | Vanessa Ruiz from 2016-08-26T15:21:54
Vanessa Ruiz takes us on an illustrated journey of human anatomical art over the centuries, sharing captivating images that bring this visual science -- and the contemporary artists in...
A project of peace, painted across 50 buildings | eL Seed from 2016-07-19T15:07:46
eL Seed fuses Arabic calligraphy with graffiti to paint colorful, swirling messages of hope and peace on buildings from Tunisia to Paris. The artist and TED Fellow shares the story of his most ambi...
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My love letter to cosplay | Adam Savage from 2016-07-15T15:07:43
Adam Savage makes things and builds experiments, and he uses costumes to add humor, color and clarity to the stories he tells. Tracing his lifelong love of costumes -- from a childhood space helmet...
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Why I keep speaking up, even when people mock my accent | Safwat Saleem from 2016-07-07T15:21:10
Artist Safwat Saleem grew up with a stutter -- but as an independent animator, he decided to do his own voiceovers to give life to his characters. When YouTube commenters started mocking his Pakist...
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Every piece of art you've ever wanted to see -- up close and searchable | Amit Sood from 2016-06-07T15:01:43
What does a cultural Big Bang look like? For Amit Sood, director of Google's Cultural Institute and Art Project, it's an online platform where anyone can explore the world's greatest collections of...
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The passing of time, caught in a single photo | Stephen Wilkes from 2016-06-03T14:51:37
Photographer Stephen Wilkes crafts stunning compositions of landscapes as they transition from day to night, exploring the space-time continuum within a two-dimensional still photograph. Journey wi...
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My journey from Marine to actor | Adam Driver from 2016-05-27T15:10:29
Before he fought in the galactic battles of Star Wars, Adam Driver was a United States Marine with 1/1 Weapons Company. He tells the story of how and why he became a Marine, the complex transition ...
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Drawings that show the beauty and fragility of Earth | Zaria Forman from 2016-05-25T15:00:38
Zaria Forman's large-scale compositions of melting glaciers, icebergs floating in glassy water and waves cresting with foam explore moments of transition, turbulence and tranquility. Join her as sh...
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An artist's unflinching look at racial violence | Sanford Biggers from 2016-05-11T14:44:53
Conceptual artist and TED Fellow Sanford Biggers uses painting, sculpture, video and performance to spark challenging conversations about the history and trauma of black America. Join him as he det...
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Pirates, nurses and other rebel designers | Alice Rawsthorn from 2016-05-03T15:08:34
In this ode to design renegades, Alice Rawsthorn highlights the work of unlikely heroes, from Blackbeard to Florence Nightingale. Drawing a line from these bold thinkers to some early modern vision...
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Insightful human portraits made from data | R. Luke DuBois from 2016-04-26T15:06:25
Artist R. Luke DuBois makes unique portraits of presidents, cities, himself and even Britney Spears using data and personality. In this talk, he shares nine projects -- from maps of the country bui...
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Wisdom from great writers on every year of life | Joshua Prager from 2016-04-19T13:08:58
As different as we humans are from one another, we all age along the same great sequence, and the shared patterns of our lives pass into the pages of the books we love. In this moving talk, journal...
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The magic ingredient that brings Pixar movies to life | Danielle Feinberg from 2016-04-06T14:42:59
Danielle Feinberg, Pixar's director of photography, creates stories with soul and wonder using math, science and code. Go behind the scenes of Finding Nemo, Toy Story, Brave, WALL-E and more, and d...
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The beauty of human skin in every color | Angélica Dass from 2016-03-28T15:22:30
Angélica Dass's photography challenges how we think about skin color and ethnic identity. In this personal talk, hear about the inspiration behind her portrait project, Humanæ, and her pursuit to d...
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Dive into an ocean photographer's world | Thomas Peschak from 2016-02-29T15:54:30
Somersaulting manta rays, dashing dolphins, swarming schools of fish and munching sharks inhabit a world beneath the ocean's surface that few get a chance to see. Conservation photogra...
How I'm discovering the secrets of ancient texts | Gregory Heyworth from 2016-02-10T15:47:07
Gregory Heyworth is a textual scientist; he and his lab work on new ways to read ancient manuscripts and maps using spectral imaging technology. In this fascinating talk, watch as Heyworth shines a...
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The unheard story of the Sistine Chapel | Elizabeth Lev from 2016-01-22T16:26:35
The Sistine Chapel is one of the most iconic buildings on earth -- but there's a lot you probably don't know about it. In this tour-de-force talk, art historian Elizabeth Lev guides us across the f...
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Why great architecture should tell a story | Ole Scheeren from 2016-01-14T16:22:03
For architect Ole Scheeren, the people who live and work inside a building are as much a part of that building as concrete, steel and glass. He asks: Can architecture be about collaboration and sto...
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An underwater art museum, teeming with life | Jason deCaires Taylor from 2015-12-22T16:33:01
For sculptor Jason deCaires Taylor, the ocean is more than a muse -- it's an exhibition space and museum. Taylor creates sculptures of human forms and mundane life on land and sinks them to the oce...
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Forget shopping. Soon you'll download your new clothes | Danit Peleg from 2015-12-08T16:28:30
Downloadable, printable clothing may be coming to a closet near you. What started as designer Danit Peleg's fashion school project turned into a collection of 3D-printed designs that have the stren...
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An art made of trust, vulnerability and connection | Marina Abramovi? from 2015-11-30T18:17:43
Marina Abramovi?'s art pushes the boundary between audience and artist in pursuit of heightened consciousness and personal change. In her groundbreaking 2010 work, "The Artist Is Prese...
My year reading a book from every country in the world | Ann Morgan from 2015-11-23T16:22:23
Ann Morgan considered herself well read -- until she discovered the "massive blindspot" on her bookshelf. Amid a multitude of English and American authors, there were very few books from beyond the...
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Art that lets you talk back to NSA spies | Mathias Jud from 2015-10-29T14:52:41
In 2013, the world learned that the NSA and its UK equivalent, GCHQ, routinely spied on the German government. Amid the outrage, artists Mathias Jud and Christoph Wachter thought: Well, if they're ...
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Stunning photos of the endangered Everglades | Mac Stone from 2015-09-30T16:12:34
For centuries, people have viewed swamps and wetlands as obstacles to avoid. But for photographer Mac Stone, who documents the stories of wildlife in Florida's Everglades, the swamp isn't a hindran...
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A journey through the mind of an artist | Dustin Yellin from 2015-08-21T15:03:55
Dustin Yellin makes mesmerizing artwork that tells complex, myth-inspired stories. How did he develop his style? In this disarming talk, he shares the journey of an artist -- starting from age 8 --...
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A secret memorial for civilian casualties | Matt Kenyon from 2015-08-13T15:07:13
In the fog of war, civilian casualties often go uncounted. Artist Matt Kenyon, whose recent work memorialized the names and stories of US soldiers killed in the Iraq war, decided he should create a...
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Street art with a message of hope and peace | eL Seed from 2015-07-23T14:58:17
What does this gorgeous street art say? It's Arabic poetry, inspired by bold graffiti and placed where a message of hope and peace can do the most good. In this quietly passionate talk, artist and ...
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This is what enduring love looks like | Alec Soth and Stacey Baker from 2015-07-15T14:49:51
Stacey Baker has always been obsessed with how couples meet. When she asked photographer Alec Soth to help her explore this topic, they found themselves at the world's largest speed-dating event, h...
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The art of first impressions -- in design and life | Chip Kidd from 2015-06-23T14:59:40
Book designer Chip Kidd knows all too well how often we judge things by first appearances. In this hilarious, fast-paced talk, he explains the two techniques designers use to communicate instantly ...
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A powerful poem about what it feels like to be transgender | Lee Mokobe from 2015-06-12T15:14:30
"I was the mystery of an anatomy, a question asked but not answered," says poet Lee Mokobe, a TED Fellow, in this gripping and poetic exploration of identity and transition. It's a thoughtful refle...
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One woman, five characters, and a sex lesson from the future | Sarah Jones from 2015-06-09T14:58:12
In this performance, Sarah Jones brings you to the front row of a classroom in the future, as a teacher plugs in different personas from the year 2016 to show their varied perspectives on sex work....
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Why city flags may be the worst-designed thing you've never noticed | Roman Mars from 2015-05-14T15:12:54
Roman Mars is obsessed with flags -- and after you watch this talk, you might be, too. These ubiquitous symbols of civic pride are often designed, well, pretty terribly. But they don't have to be. ...
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Magical houses, made of bamboo | Elora Hardy from 2015-05-12T14:58:22
You've never seen buildings like this. The stunning bamboo homes built by Elora Hardy and her team in Bali twist, curve and surprise at every turn. They defy convention because the bamboo itself is...
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The dancer, the singer, the cellist ... and a moment of creative magic | Bill T. Jones from 2015-05-06T15:14:44
Legendary dance choreographer Bill T. Jones and TED Fellows Joshua Roman and Somi didn't know exactly what was going to happen when they took the stage at TED2015. They just knew they wanted to off...
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There’s a better way to die, and architecture can help | Alison Killing from 2015-03-30T14:56:29
In this short, provocative talk, architect Alison Killing looks at buildings where death and dying happen -- cemeteries, hospitals, homes. The way we die is changing, and the way we build for dying...
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How to revive a neighborhood: with imagination, beauty and art | Theaster Gates from 2015-03-26T15:13:39
Theaster Gates, a potter by training and a social activist by calling, wanted to do something about the sorry state of his neighborhood on the south side of Chicago. So he did, transforming abandon...
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Why the buildings of the future will be shaped by ... you | Marc Kushner from 2015-03-10T15:02:19
"Architecture is not about math or zoning -- it's about visceral emotions," says Marc Kushner. In a sweeping — often funny — talk, he zooms through the past thirty years of architecture to show how...
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How to go to space, without having to go to space | Angelo Vermeulen from 2015-02-19T16:05:29
"We will start inhabiting outer space," says Angelo Vermeulen, crew commander of a NASA-funded Mars simulation. "It might take 50 years or it might take 500 years, but it's going to happen." In thi...
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Old books reborn as art | Brian Dettmer from 2015-02-06T16:00:42
What do you do with an outdated encyclopedia in the information age? With X-Acto knives and an eye for a good remix, artist Brian Dettmer makes beautiful, unexpected sculptures that breathe new lif...
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The beauty and diversity of Muslim life | Bassam Tariq from 2015-01-30T16:00:04
Bassam Tariq is a blogger, a filmmaker, and a halal butcher -- but one thread unites his work: His joy in the diversity, the humanness of our individual experiences. In this charming talk, he share...
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Trash cart superheroes | Mundano from 2014-12-19T16:18:48
In Brazil, "catadores" collect junk and recyclables. But while they provide a vital service that benefits all, they are nearly invisible as they roam the streets. Enter graffiti artist Mundano, a T...
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The world's most boring television ... and why it's hilariously addictive | Thomas Hellum from 2014-12-10T16:13:04
You've heard about slow food. Now here's slow ... TV? In this very funny talk, Norwegian television producer Thomas Hellum shares how he and his team began to broadcast long, boring events, often l...
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A dance in a hurricane of paper, wind and light | Aakash Odedra from 2014-12-05T16:00:35
Choreographer Aakash Odedra is dyslexic and has always felt that his best expression comes through movement. “Murmur” is his ode to that experience, teaming up with co-creators Lewis Major and Ars ...
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How painting can transform communities | Haas&Hahn from 2014-11-07T16:29:52
Artists Jeroen Koolhaas and Dre Urhahn create community art by painting entire neighborhoods, and involving those who live there -- from the favelas of Rio to the streets of North Philadelphia. Wha...
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My architectural philosophy? Bring the community into the process | Alejandro Aravena from 2014-11-06T15:51:08
When asked to build housing for 100 families in Chile ten years ago, Alejandro Aravena looked to an unusual inspiration: the wisdom of favelas and slums. Rather than building a large building with ...
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How to reinvent the apartment building | Moshe Safdie from 2014-09-26T14:47:33
In 1967, Moshe Safdie reimagined the monolithic apartment building, creating “Habitat ’67,” which gave each unit an unprecedented sense of openness. Nearly 50 years later, he believes the need for ...
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Wry photos that turn stereotypes upside down | Uldus Bakhtiozina from 2014-09-12T14:59:03
Artist Uldus Bakhtiozina uses photographs to poke fun at societal norms in her native Russia. A glimpse into Russian youth culture and a short, fun reminder not to take ourselves too seriously.
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Everyday objects, tragic histories | Ziyah Gafic? from 2014-08-22T16:40:51
Ziyah Gafic? photographs everyday objects—watches, shoes, glasses. But these images are deceptively simple; the items in them have been exhumed from the mass graves of the Bosnian War....
How I brought a river, and my city, back to life | Aziza Chaouni from 2014-08-19T14:56:48
The Fez River winds through the medina of Fez, Morocco—a mazelike medieval city that's a World Heritage site. Once considered the "soul" of this celebrated city, the river succumbed to sewage and p...
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