WEBVTT 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 My day starts just like yours. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 (Laughter) 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 When I wake up in the morning, 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 I check my phone 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 and then I have a cup of coffee. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 But then my day truly starts. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 It may not be like yours because I live my life as an artwork. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Picture yourself in a giant jewelry box 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 with all the beautiful things that you have ever seen in your life. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Then imagine that your body is a canvas. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 And on that canvas, 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 you have a mission to create a masterpiece 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 using the contents of your giant jewelry box. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Once you've created your masterpiece, 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 you might think, "Wow, I created that. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 This is who I am today." 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Then you would pick up your housekeys, 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 walk out the door into the real world, 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 maybe take public transport to the center of the town. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Possibly walk along the streets or even go shopping. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 That's my life every day. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 When I walk out the door, 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 these artworks are me. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 I am art. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 I've lived as art my entire adult life. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Living as art is how I became myself. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 I was brought up in a small village called Fillongley in England, 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 and it was last mentioned in the "Domesday Book," 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 so that's the mentality. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 (Laughter) 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 I was raised by my grandparents, 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 and they were antiques dealers. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 So I grew up surrounded by history and beautiful things. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 I had the most amazing dress-up box. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 So as you can imagine, 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 it started then. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 I moved to London when I was 17 to become a model. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 And then I went to study photography. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 I wasn't really happy with myself at the time, 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 so I was always looking for escapism. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 I studied the works of David LaChappelle and Steven Arnold, 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 photographers who both curated and created worlds 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 that were mindblowing to me. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 So I decided one day to crossover from the superficial fashion world 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 to the superficial art world. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 (Laughter) 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 I decided to live my life as a work of art. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 I spend hours, sometimes months, making things. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 My go-to tool is a safety pin, 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 like this -- 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 they're never big enough. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 And I use my fabrics time and time again, 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 so I recycle everything that I use. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 When I get dressed I'm guided by color, texture and shape. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 I rarely have a theme. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 I find beautiful objects from all over the world 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 and I curate them into 3D tapestries over a base layer 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 that covers my whole body shape... 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 because I'm not very happy with my body. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 (Laughter) 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 I ask myself, "Should I take something off 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 or should I put something on?" 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 100 pieces maybe, 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 and sometiems I do that. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 I promise you it's not too uncomfortable -- 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 well, just a little -- 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 (Laughter) 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 I might have a safety pin poking me sometimes 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 when I'm having a conversation with you, 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 so I'll kind of go off -- 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 (Laughter) 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 It usually takes me about 20 minutes to get ready, 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 which nobody every believes. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 It's true -- 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 sometimes. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 So is my version of a t-shirt and jeans. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 (Laughter) 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 When I get dressed I build like an architect. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 I carefully place things until I feel they belong. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Then I get a lot of my ideas from lucid dreaming. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 I actually go to sleep to come up with my ideas, 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 and I've taught myself to wake up to write them down. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 I wear things until they fall apart, 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 and then I give them a new life. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 The gold outfit for example is the outfit that I wore 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 to the Houses of Parliament in London. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 It's made of armor, sequins and broken jewelry, 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 and I was the first person to wear armor to Parliament 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 since Oliver Cromwell banned it in the 17th century. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Things don't need to be expensive to be beautiful. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Try making outfits out of bin liners or trash you found out on the street. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 You never know, 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 they might end up on the pages of Vogue. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 There's over 6,000 pieces in my collection, 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 ranging from 2,000-year-old Roman rings to ancient Buddhist artifacts. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 I believe in sharing what I do and what I have with others, 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 so I decided to create an art exhibition, 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 which is currently traveling to museums around the world. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 It contains and army of me -- 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 life-size scultptures as you can see behind me, 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 they're here -- 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 they are my life, really. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 They're 3D tapestries of my existence as living as art. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 They contain plastic crystals mixred with diamonds, 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 beer cans and world silks all in one look. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 I like the fact that the viewer can never make the assumption 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 of what's real and what's fake. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 I find it important to explore and share cultures through my works. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 I use clothing as a means to investigate 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 and appreciate people from all over the world. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Sometimes people think I'm a performer or a drag queen. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 I'm not. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Although my life appears to be a performance, 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 it's not. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 It's very real. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 People respond to me as they would any other type of artwork. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Many people are fascinated and engaged. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Some people walk around me, staring, shy at first. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Then they come up to me and they say they love or absolutely hate what I do. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 I sometimes respond and other times I let the art talk for itself. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 The most annoying thing in the world is when people want to touch the artwork. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Then I understand. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 But like a lot of contemporary art, 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 many people are dismissive. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Some people are critical, 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 others are abusive. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 I think it comes from the fear of the different -- 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 the unknown. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 There are so many reactions to what I do, 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 and I've just learnt not to take them personally. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 I've never lived as Daniel Lismore the person. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 I've lived as Daniel Lismore the artwork. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 And I've faced every obstacle as an artwork. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 It can be hard. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Especially if your wardrobe takes up a 40-foot container, 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 three storage units 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 and 30 boxes from IKEA -- 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 (Laughter) 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 and sometimes it can be very difficult getting into cars, 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 and sometimes -- 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 well, this morning I didn't fit through my bathroom door, 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 so that was a problem. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 (Laughter) 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 What does it mean to be yourself? 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 People say it all the time, 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 but what does it truly mean? 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 And why does it matter? 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 How does life change when you choose to be unapolegetically yourself? 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 I've had to face struggles and triumphs whilst living my life as art. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 I've been put on private jets 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 and flown around the world. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 My work's been displayed in prestigous musuems 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 and I've had the opportunity -- 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 that's my grandparents by the way -- 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 by the people that raised me -- 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 and there I am -- 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 (Applause) 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 So I've been put on private jets, 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 flown around the world 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 and it's not been that easy 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 because at times I've been homeless, 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 I've been spat at, 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 I've been abused, sometimes daily, 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 bullied by entire life, 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 rejected by countless individuals, 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 and I've been stabbed. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 But what hurt the most was being put on the "Worst Dressed" list. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 (Laughter) 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 It can be hard being yourself, 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 but I've found it's the best way. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 There's the "Worst Dressed." 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 (Laughter) 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 As the quote goes, "Everyone else is already taken," 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 I've come to realize confidence is a concept you can choose. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 I've come to realize that authenticity is necessary and it's powerful. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 I've tried to spend time being like other people. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 It didn't work. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 It's a lot of hard work, 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 not being yourself. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 I have a few questions for you all. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Who are you? 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 How many versions of you are there? 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 And I have one final question: 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 are you using them all to your advantage? 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 In reality, everyone is capable of creating their own masterpiece. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 You should try it some time. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 It's quite fun. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Thank you. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 (Applause and cheers)