WEBVTT 00:00:01.404 --> 00:00:04.178 My day starts just like yours. 00:00:05.691 --> 00:00:09.555 (Laughter) 00:00:10.812 --> 00:00:12.770 When I wake up in the morning, 00:00:12.770 --> 00:00:14.996 I check my phone 00:00:14.996 --> 00:00:16.498 and then I have a cup of coffee. 00:00:17.722 --> 00:00:20.031 But then my day truly starts. 00:00:21.341 --> 00:00:26.400 It may not be like yours because I live my life as an artwork. 00:00:28.490 --> 00:00:31.974 Picture yourself in a giant jewelry box 00:00:32.800 --> 00:00:35.723 with all the beautiful things that you have ever seen in your life. 00:00:37.526 --> 00:00:41.156 Then imagine that your body is a canvas. 00:00:42.735 --> 00:00:44.523 And on that canvas, 00:00:44.523 --> 00:00:49.628 you have a mission to create a masterpiece 00:00:49.628 --> 00:00:52.085 using the contents of your giant jewelry box. 00:00:54.002 --> 00:00:56.984 Once you've created your masterpiece, 00:00:56.984 --> 00:01:00.520 you might think, "Wow, I created that. 00:01:00.520 --> 00:01:02.116 This is who I am today." 00:01:02.957 --> 00:01:04.795 Then you would pick up your housekeys, 00:01:04.795 --> 00:01:07.065 walk out the door into the real world, 00:01:07.065 --> 00:01:10.109 maybe take public transport to the center of the town. 00:01:11.607 --> 00:01:15.053 Possibly walk along the streets or even go shopping. 00:01:15.967 --> 00:01:17.520 That's my life every day. 00:01:18.874 --> 00:01:20.280 When I walk out the door, 00:01:20.280 --> 00:01:21.706 these artworks are me. 00:01:22.506 --> 00:01:24.569 I am art. 00:01:26.578 --> 00:01:29.562 I've lived as art my entire adult life. 00:01:30.484 --> 00:01:32.975 Living as art is how I became myself. 00:01:34.601 --> 00:01:38.808 I was brought up in a small village called Fillongley in England, 00:01:38.808 --> 00:01:40.670 and it was last mentioned in the "Domesday Book," 00:01:40.670 --> 00:01:41.886 so that's the mentality. 00:01:42.775 --> 00:01:43.880 (Laughter) 00:01:44.074 --> 00:01:46.192 I was raised by my grandparents, 00:01:46.192 --> 00:01:47.457 and they were antiques dealers. 00:01:48.002 --> 00:01:51.995 So I grew up surrounded by history and beautiful things. 00:01:52.741 --> 00:01:54.488 I had the most amazing dress-up box. 00:01:55.484 --> 00:01:57.394 So as you can imagine, 00:01:57.394 --> 00:01:58.479 it started then. 00:02:01.957 --> 00:02:04.345 I moved to London when I was 17 to become a model. 00:02:05.858 --> 00:02:07.510 And then I went to study photography. 00:02:09.169 --> 00:02:11.590 I wasn't really happy with myself at the time, 00:02:11.590 --> 00:02:13.121 so I was always looking for escapism. 00:02:14.054 --> 00:02:17.940 I studied the works of David LaChappelle and Steven Arnold, 00:02:17.940 --> 00:02:21.498 photographers who both curated and created worlds 00:02:21.498 --> 00:02:23.386 that were mindblowing to me. 00:02:24.228 --> 00:02:30.072 So I decided one day to crossover from the superficial fashion world 00:02:30.072 --> 00:02:31.463 to the superficial art world. 00:02:32.291 --> 00:02:33.336 (Laughter) 00:02:33.526 --> 00:02:36.331 I decided to live my life as a work of art. 00:02:38.348 --> 00:02:40.971 I spend hours, sometimes months, making things. 00:02:42.156 --> 00:02:44.317 My go-to tool is a safety pin, 00:02:44.317 --> 00:02:46.420 like this -- 00:02:46.420 --> 00:02:47.922 they're never big enough. 00:02:48.861 --> 00:02:51.525 And I use my fabrics time and time again, 00:02:51.525 --> 00:02:53.028 so I recycle everything that I use. 00:02:54.848 --> 00:02:57.618 When I get dressed I'm guided by color, texture and shape. 00:02:58.988 --> 00:03:00.223 I rarely have a theme. 00:03:01.065 --> 00:03:03.202 I find beautiful objects from all over the world 00:03:03.202 --> 00:03:07.144 and I curate them into 3D tapestries over a base layer 00:03:07.144 --> 00:03:08.965 that covers my whole body shape... 00:03:08.965 --> 00:03:10.459 because I'm not very happy with my body. 00:03:10.902 --> 00:03:11.929 (Laughter) 00:03:12.441 --> 00:03:14.161 I ask myself, "Should I take something off 00:03:14.161 --> 00:03:16.654 or should I put something on?" 00:03:16.850 --> 00:03:17.906 100 pieces maybe, 00:03:17.906 --> 00:03:19.442 and sometiems I do that. 00:03:21.171 --> 00:03:23.941 I promise you it's not too uncomfortable -- 00:03:23.941 --> 00:03:25.557 well, just a little -- 00:03:25.557 --> 00:03:26.491 (Laughter) 00:03:26.491 --> 00:03:28.338 I might have a safety pin poking me sometimes 00:03:28.338 --> 00:03:30.270 when I'm having a conversation with you, 00:03:30.270 --> 00:03:32.429 so I'll kind of go off -- 00:03:32.429 --> 00:03:33.643 (Laughter) 00:03:35.293 --> 00:03:38.780 It usually takes me about 20 minutes to get ready, 00:03:38.780 --> 00:03:40.692 which nobody every believes. 00:03:42.101 --> 00:03:42.942 It's true -- 00:03:42.942 --> 00:03:43.892 sometimes. 00:03:45.143 --> 00:03:47.919 So, it's my version of a t-shirt and jeans. 00:03:48.134 --> 00:03:49.917 (Laughter) 00:03:50.299 --> 00:03:52.164 When I get dressed I build like an architect. 00:03:53.150 --> 00:03:55.584 I carefully place things until I feel they belong. 00:03:56.387 --> 00:03:58.851 Then I get a lot of my ideas from lucid dreaming. 00:03:59.527 --> 00:04:02.013 I actually go to sleep to come up with my ideas, 00:04:02.013 --> 00:04:04.372 and I've taught myself to wake up to write them down. 00:04:06.192 --> 00:04:08.283 I wear things until they fall apart, 00:04:08.283 --> 00:04:10.114 and then I give them a new life. 00:04:10.956 --> 00:04:14.785 The gold outfit for example is the outfit that I wore 00:04:14.785 --> 00:04:16.514 to the Houses of Parliament in London. 00:04:17.645 --> 00:04:20.331 It's made of armor, sequins and broken jewelry, 00:04:20.331 --> 00:04:23.232 and I was the first person to wear armor to Parliament 00:04:23.232 --> 00:04:25.732 since Oliver Cromwell banned it in the 17th century. 00:04:27.102 --> 00:04:29.488 Things don't need to be expensive to be beautiful. 00:04:30.635 --> 00:04:35.433 Try making outfits out of bin liners or trash you found out on the street. 00:04:35.628 --> 00:04:36.624 You never know, 00:04:36.624 --> 00:04:38.855 they might end up on the pages of Vogue. 00:04:40.260 --> 00:04:42.274 There's over 6,000 pieces in my collection, 00:04:42.274 --> 00:04:46.630 ranging from 2,000-year-old Roman rings to ancient Buddhist artifacts. 00:04:47.329 --> 00:04:50.227 I believe in sharing what I do and what I have with others, 00:04:50.227 --> 00:04:53.300 so I decided to create an art exhibition, 00:04:53.300 --> 00:04:55.778 which is currently traveling to museums around the world. 00:04:57.280 --> 00:04:59.578 It contains and army of me -- 00:04:59.578 --> 00:05:01.570 life-size scultptures as you can see behind me, 00:05:01.570 --> 00:05:02.615 they're here -- 00:05:02.615 --> 00:05:03.855 they are my life, really. 00:05:04.075 --> 00:05:07.994 They're 3D tapestries of my existence as living as art. 00:05:07.994 --> 00:05:09.878 They contain plastic crystals mixred with diamonds, 00:05:09.878 --> 00:05:12.339 beer cans and world silks all in one look. 00:05:12.889 --> 00:05:15.002 I like the fact that the viewer can never make the assumption 00:05:15.002 --> 00:05:16.771 of what's real and what's fake. 00:05:17.864 --> 00:05:22.465 I find it important to explore and share cultures through my works. 00:05:23.988 --> 00:05:26.371 I use clothing as a means to investigate 00:05:26.371 --> 00:05:28.577 and appreciate people from all over the world. 00:05:29.874 --> 00:05:34.858 Sometimes people think I'm a performer or a drag queen. 00:05:35.884 --> 00:05:37.036 I'm not. 00:05:37.331 --> 00:05:40.930 Although my life appears to be a performance, 00:05:40.930 --> 00:05:41.663 it's not. 00:05:42.379 --> 00:05:43.784 It's very real. 00:05:45.075 --> 00:05:47.630 People respond to me as they would any other type of artwork. 00:05:48.466 --> 00:05:51.080 Many people are fascinated and engaged. 00:05:51.764 --> 00:05:54.612 Some people walk around me, staring, shy at first. 00:05:55.057 --> 00:05:59.379 Then they come up to me and they say they love or absolutely hate what I do. 00:06:00.484 --> 00:06:03.968 I sometimes respond and other times I let the art talk for itself. 00:06:06.387 --> 00:06:09.494 The most annoying thing in the world is when people want to touch the artwork. 00:06:10.746 --> 00:06:12.216 Then I understand. 00:06:13.062 --> 00:06:14.864 But like a lot of contemporary art, 00:06:14.864 --> 00:06:16.042 many people are dismissive. 00:06:16.331 --> 00:06:18.148 Some people are critical, 00:06:18.148 --> 00:06:19.370 others are abusive. 00:06:20.102 --> 00:06:23.023 I think it comes from the fear of the different -- 00:06:23.023 --> 00:06:24.083 the unknown. 00:06:24.504 --> 00:06:26.965 There are so many reactions to what I do, 00:06:26.965 --> 00:06:29.789 and I've just learnt not to take them personally. 00:06:31.130 --> 00:06:33.137 I've never lived as Daniel Lismore the person. 00:06:33.554 --> 00:06:35.458 I've lived as Daniel Lismore the artwork. 00:06:36.346 --> 00:06:38.862 And I've faced every obstacle as an artwork. 00:06:40.526 --> 00:06:41.775 It can be hard. 00:06:42.567 --> 00:06:46.727 Especially if your wardrobe takes up a 40-foot container, 00:06:46.727 --> 00:06:47.770 three storage units 00:06:47.770 --> 00:06:49.570 and 30 boxes from IKEA -- 00:06:49.570 --> 00:06:51.272 (Laughter) 00:06:51.272 --> 00:06:55.208 and sometimes it can be very difficult getting into cars, 00:06:55.208 --> 00:06:56.162 and sometimes -- 00:06:56.162 --> 00:06:58.113 well, this morning I didn't fit through my bathroom door, 00:06:58.113 --> 00:06:58.997 so that was a problem. 00:06:58.997 --> 00:07:01.486 (Laughter) 00:07:02.220 --> 00:07:04.125 What does it mean to be yourself? 00:07:04.552 --> 00:07:06.462 People say it all the time, 00:07:06.462 --> 00:07:07.965 but what does it truly mean? 00:07:08.255 --> 00:07:09.501 And why does it matter? 00:07:10.510 --> 00:07:14.488 How does life change when you choose to be unapolegetically yourself? 00:07:16.755 --> 00:07:20.219 I've had to face struggles and triumphs whilst living my life as art. 00:07:20.819 --> 00:07:22.979 I've been put on private jets 00:07:22.979 --> 00:07:24.484 and flown around the world. 00:07:25.031 --> 00:07:26.971 My work's been displayed in prestigous musuems 00:07:26.971 --> 00:07:28.329 and I've had the opportunity -- 00:07:28.329 --> 00:07:31.468 that's my grandparents by the way -- 00:07:31.468 --> 00:07:32.901 by the people that raised me -- 00:07:32.901 --> 00:07:35.360 and there I am -- 00:07:35.360 --> 00:07:39.740 (Applause) 00:07:41.076 --> 00:07:42.324 So I've been put on private jets, 00:07:42.324 --> 00:07:43.342 flown around the world 00:07:43.342 --> 00:07:46.068 and it's not been that easy 00:07:46.068 --> 00:07:49.043 because at times I've been homeless, 00:07:49.043 --> 00:07:50.446 I've been spat at, 00:07:50.446 --> 00:07:52.217 I've been abused, sometimes daily, 00:07:52.217 --> 00:07:54.268 bullied by entire life, 00:07:54.268 --> 00:07:56.652 rejected by countless individuals, 00:07:56.652 --> 00:07:57.996 and I've been stabbed. 00:07:58.674 --> 00:08:02.306 But what hurt the most was being put on the "Worst Dressed" list. 00:08:02.755 --> 00:08:04.774 (Laughter) 00:08:06.045 --> 00:08:08.328 It can be hard being yourself, 00:08:08.328 --> 00:08:09.903 but I've found it's the best way. 00:08:10.313 --> 00:08:12.030 There's the "Worst Dressed." 00:08:12.286 --> 00:08:13.282 (Laughter) 00:08:14.091 --> 00:08:17.340 As the quote goes, "Everyone else is already taken," 00:08:17.340 --> 00:08:20.267 I've come to realize confidence is a concept you can choose. 00:08:21.300 --> 00:08:25.120 I've come to realize that authenticity is necessary and it's powerful. 00:08:26.430 --> 00:08:29.288 I've tried to spend time being like other people. 00:08:29.991 --> 00:08:31.111 It didn't work. 00:08:31.620 --> 00:08:32.766 It's a lot of hard work, 00:08:32.766 --> 00:08:33.901 not being yourself. 00:08:35.836 --> 00:08:37.620 I have a few questions for you all. 00:08:38.789 --> 00:08:39.996 Who are you? 00:08:41.236 --> 00:08:42.830 How many versions of you are there? 00:08:44.086 --> 00:08:47.256 And I have one final question: 00:08:47.256 --> 00:08:50.015 are you using them all to your advantage? 00:08:51.715 --> 00:08:55.245 In reality, everyone is capable of creating their own masterpiece. 00:08:56.104 --> 00:08:57.509 You should try it some time. 00:08:57.958 --> 00:08:59.006 It's quite fun. 00:08:59.705 --> 00:09:00.786 Thank you. 00:09:01.101 --> 00:09:04.189 (Applause and cheers)