WEBVTT 00:00:01.224 --> 00:00:04.498 My day starts just like yours. NOTE Paragraph 00:00:05.581 --> 00:00:10.546 (Laughter) NOTE Paragraph 00:00:10.570 --> 00:00:12.586 When I wake up in the morning, 00:00:12.610 --> 00:00:14.798 I check my phone, 00:00:14.822 --> 00:00:16.484 and then I have a cup of coffee. 00:00:17.512 --> 00:00:20.001 But then my day truly starts. 00:00:21.154 --> 00:00:26.333 It may not be like yours, because I live my life as an artwork. 00:00:28.289 --> 00:00:32.612 Picture yourself in a giant jewelry box 00:00:32.636 --> 00:00:35.977 with all the beautiful things that you have ever seen in your life. 00:00:37.336 --> 00:00:41.186 Then imagine that your body is a canvas. 00:00:42.568 --> 00:00:44.311 And on that canvas, 00:00:44.335 --> 00:00:49.397 you have a mission to create a masterpiece 00:00:49.421 --> 00:00:52.212 using the contents of your giant jewelry box. 00:00:53.757 --> 00:00:56.766 Once you've created your masterpiece, 00:00:56.790 --> 00:01:00.298 you might think, "Wow, I created that. 00:01:00.322 --> 00:01:01.998 This is who I am today." 00:01:02.736 --> 00:01:04.691 Then you would pick up your house keys, 00:01:04.715 --> 00:01:06.961 walk out the door into the real world, 00:01:06.985 --> 00:01:10.371 maybe take public transport to the center of the town ... 00:01:11.709 --> 00:01:14.913 Possibly walk along the streets or even go shopping. NOTE Paragraph 00:01:15.731 --> 00:01:17.458 That's my life, every day. 00:01:18.686 --> 00:01:20.079 When I walk out the door, 00:01:20.103 --> 00:01:21.699 these artworks are me. 00:01:22.281 --> 00:01:24.377 I am art. 00:01:26.408 --> 00:01:29.572 I have lived as art my entire adult life. 00:01:30.324 --> 00:01:33.015 Living as art is how I became myself. NOTE Paragraph 00:01:34.401 --> 00:01:38.491 I was brought up in a small village called Fillongley, in England, 00:01:38.515 --> 00:01:40.802 and it was last mentioned in the "Domesday Book," 00:01:40.826 --> 00:01:42.461 so that's the mentality. NOTE Paragraph 00:01:42.485 --> 00:01:43.636 (Laughter) NOTE Paragraph 00:01:43.660 --> 00:01:45.982 I was raised by my grandparents, 00:01:46.006 --> 00:01:47.780 and they were antiques dealers, 00:01:47.804 --> 00:01:52.109 so I grew up surrounded by history and beautiful things. 00:01:52.621 --> 00:01:54.498 I had the most amazing dress-up box. 00:01:55.309 --> 00:01:58.340 So as you can imagine, it started then. 00:02:01.817 --> 00:02:04.455 I moved to London when I was 17 to become a model. 00:02:05.718 --> 00:02:07.610 And then I went to study photography. 00:02:08.995 --> 00:02:11.364 I wasn't really happy with myself at the time, 00:02:11.388 --> 00:02:13.169 so I was always looking for escapism. 00:02:13.884 --> 00:02:16.516 I studied the works of David LaChapelle 00:02:16.540 --> 00:02:17.826 and Steven Arnold, 00:02:17.850 --> 00:02:21.474 photographers who both curated and created worlds 00:02:21.498 --> 00:02:23.596 that were mind-blowing to me. 00:02:24.038 --> 00:02:29.887 So I decided one day to cross over from the superficial fashion world 00:02:29.911 --> 00:02:31.570 to the superficial art world. NOTE Paragraph 00:02:31.594 --> 00:02:32.967 (Laughter) NOTE Paragraph 00:02:32.991 --> 00:02:36.426 I decided to live my life as a work of art. 00:02:38.178 --> 00:02:41.071 I spend hours, sometimes months, making things. 00:02:41.807 --> 00:02:45.196 My go-to tool is a safety pin, like this -- NOTE Paragraph 00:02:45.220 --> 00:02:46.226 (Laughter) NOTE Paragraph 00:02:46.250 --> 00:02:47.478 They're never big enough. NOTE Paragraph 00:02:47.502 --> 00:02:48.609 (Laughter) NOTE Paragraph 00:02:48.633 --> 00:02:51.157 And I use my fabrics time and time again, 00:02:51.181 --> 00:02:53.054 so I recycle everything that I use. 00:02:54.580 --> 00:02:57.590 When I get dressed I'm guided by color, texture and shape. 00:02:58.848 --> 00:03:00.203 I rarely have a theme. 00:03:00.865 --> 00:03:03.169 I find beautiful objects from all over the world, 00:03:03.183 --> 00:03:06.021 and I curate them into 3-D tapestries 00:03:06.045 --> 00:03:08.705 over a base layer that covers my whole body shape ... 00:03:08.729 --> 00:03:10.670 because I'm not very happy with my body. NOTE Paragraph 00:03:10.694 --> 00:03:11.844 (Laughs) NOTE Paragraph 00:03:12.177 --> 00:03:14.177 I ask myself, "Should I take something off 00:03:14.201 --> 00:03:16.395 or should I put something on? 00:03:16.419 --> 00:03:17.592 100 pieces, maybe?" 00:03:17.616 --> 00:03:19.062 And sometimes, I do that. 00:03:20.963 --> 00:03:23.767 I promise you it's not too uncomfortable -- 00:03:23.791 --> 00:03:25.333 well, just a little -- NOTE Paragraph 00:03:25.357 --> 00:03:26.437 (Laughter) NOTE Paragraph 00:03:26.461 --> 00:03:28.700 I might have a safety pin poking at me sometimes 00:03:28.724 --> 00:03:30.629 when I'm having a conversation with you, 00:03:30.653 --> 00:03:32.195 so I'll kind of go off -- NOTE Paragraph 00:03:32.219 --> 00:03:33.643 (Laughter) NOTE Paragraph 00:03:35.091 --> 00:03:38.566 It usually takes me about 20 minutes to get ready, 00:03:38.590 --> 00:03:40.692 which nobody ever believes. 00:03:41.828 --> 00:03:42.978 It's true -- 00:03:43.002 --> 00:03:44.152 sometimes. 00:03:44.942 --> 00:03:47.677 So, it's my version of a t-shirt and jeans. NOTE Paragraph 00:03:47.701 --> 00:03:49.925 (Laughter) NOTE Paragraph 00:03:49.949 --> 00:03:52.104 When I get dressed, I build like an architect. 00:03:52.892 --> 00:03:55.546 I carefully place things till I feel they belong. 00:03:56.157 --> 00:03:58.791 Then, I get a lot of my ideas from lucid dreaming. 00:03:59.180 --> 00:04:01.766 I actually go to sleep to come up with my ideas, 00:04:01.790 --> 00:04:04.319 and I've taught myself to wake up to write them down. 00:04:06.002 --> 00:04:07.995 I wear things till they fall apart, 00:04:08.019 --> 00:04:10.200 and then, I give them a new life. 00:04:10.686 --> 00:04:12.423 The gold outfit, for example -- 00:04:12.447 --> 00:04:16.486 it was the outfit that I wore to the Houses of Parliament in London. 00:04:17.411 --> 00:04:20.244 It's made of armor, sequins and broken jewelry, 00:04:20.268 --> 00:04:23.015 and I was the first person to wear armor to Parliament 00:04:23.039 --> 00:04:25.719 since Oliver Cromwell banned it in the 17th century. 00:04:26.889 --> 00:04:29.555 Things don't need to be expensive to be beautiful. 00:04:30.335 --> 00:04:35.120 Try making outfits out of bin liners or trash you found out on the streets. 00:04:35.144 --> 00:04:36.295 You never know, 00:04:36.319 --> 00:04:38.660 they might end up on the pages of "Vogue." NOTE Paragraph 00:04:39.932 --> 00:04:42.156 There's over 6,000 pieces in my collection, 00:04:42.180 --> 00:04:46.486 ranging from 2,000-year-old Roman rings to ancient Buddhist artifacts. 00:04:47.066 --> 00:04:50.084 I believe in sharing what I do and what I have with others, 00:04:50.108 --> 00:04:53.046 so I decided to create an art exhibition, 00:04:53.070 --> 00:04:55.998 which is currently traveling to museums around the world. 00:04:57.080 --> 00:04:59.305 It contains an army of me -- 00:04:59.329 --> 00:05:01.478 life-size sculptures as you can see behind me, 00:05:01.502 --> 00:05:02.653 they're here -- 00:05:02.677 --> 00:05:03.894 they are my life, really. 00:05:03.918 --> 00:05:07.152 They're kind of like 3-D tapestries of my existence as living as art. 00:05:07.176 --> 00:05:09.652 They contain plastic crystals mixed with diamonds, 00:05:09.676 --> 00:05:12.267 beer cans and royal silks all in one look. 00:05:12.639 --> 00:05:15.508 I like the fact that the viewer can never make the assumption 00:05:15.532 --> 00:05:17.191 about what's real and what's fake. 00:05:17.599 --> 00:05:22.390 I find it important to explore and share cultures through my works. 00:05:23.746 --> 00:05:26.156 I use clothing as a means to investigate 00:05:26.180 --> 00:05:28.636 and appreciate people from all over the world. NOTE Paragraph 00:05:29.557 --> 00:05:34.711 Sometimes, people think I'm a performer or a drag queen. 00:05:35.704 --> 00:05:37.125 I'm not. 00:05:37.149 --> 00:05:40.725 Although my life appears to be a performance, 00:05:40.749 --> 00:05:42.125 it's not. 00:05:42.149 --> 00:05:43.844 It's very real. 00:05:44.791 --> 00:05:47.832 People respond to me as they would any other type of artwork. 00:05:48.272 --> 00:05:51.164 Many people are fascinated and engaged. 00:05:51.536 --> 00:05:54.574 Some people walk around me, staring, shy at first. 00:05:55.024 --> 00:05:59.446 Then they come up to me and they say they love or absolutely hate what I do. 00:06:00.242 --> 00:06:03.986 I sometimes respond, and other times I let the art talk for itself. 00:06:06.187 --> 00:06:09.964 The most annoying thing in the world is when people want to touch the artwork. 00:06:10.550 --> 00:06:11.860 But I understand. 00:06:12.822 --> 00:06:14.531 But like a lot of contemporary art, 00:06:14.555 --> 00:06:16.035 many people are dismissive. 00:06:16.059 --> 00:06:17.966 Some people are critical, 00:06:17.990 --> 00:06:19.342 others are abusive. 00:06:19.918 --> 00:06:22.809 I think it comes from the fear of the different -- 00:06:22.833 --> 00:06:24.170 the unknown. 00:06:24.194 --> 00:06:26.671 There are so many reactions to what I do, 00:06:26.695 --> 00:06:29.729 and I've just learned not to take them personally. NOTE Paragraph 00:06:30.803 --> 00:06:33.336 I've never lived as Daniel Lismore, the person. 00:06:33.360 --> 00:06:35.454 I've lived as Daniel Lismore, the artwork. 00:06:36.174 --> 00:06:38.761 And I've faced every obstacle as an artwork. 00:06:40.402 --> 00:06:42.294 It can be hard ... 00:06:42.318 --> 00:06:46.459 especially if your wardrobe takes up a 40-foot container, 00:06:46.483 --> 00:06:49.397 three storage units and 30 boxes from IKEA -- NOTE Paragraph 00:06:49.421 --> 00:06:50.936 (Laughter) NOTE Paragraph 00:06:50.960 --> 00:06:54.968 and sometimes, it can be very difficult, getting into cars, 00:06:54.992 --> 00:06:56.218 and sometimes -- 00:06:56.242 --> 00:06:58.910 well, this morning I didn't fit through my bathroom door, 00:06:58.934 --> 00:07:00.177 so that was a problem. NOTE Paragraph 00:07:00.201 --> 00:07:01.848 (Laughter) NOTE Paragraph 00:07:01.872 --> 00:07:03.847 What does it mean to be yourself? 00:07:04.313 --> 00:07:06.182 People say it all the time, 00:07:06.206 --> 00:07:07.896 but what does it truly mean, 00:07:07.920 --> 00:07:09.346 and why does it matter? 00:07:10.257 --> 00:07:14.465 How does life change when you choose to be unapologetically yourself? NOTE Paragraph 00:07:16.560 --> 00:07:20.466 I've had to face struggles and triumphs whilst living my life as art. 00:07:20.490 --> 00:07:22.730 I've been put on private jets 00:07:22.754 --> 00:07:24.329 and flown around the world. 00:07:24.724 --> 00:07:26.957 My work's been displayed in prestigious museums, 00:07:26.971 --> 00:07:28.448 and I've had the opportunity -- 00:07:28.472 --> 00:07:31.204 that is my grandparents, by the way, 00:07:31.228 --> 00:07:32.943 they're the people that raised me, 00:07:32.967 --> 00:07:34.323 and there I am -- NOTE Paragraph 00:07:34.347 --> 00:07:35.348 (Laughs) NOTE Paragraph 00:07:35.372 --> 00:07:40.834 (Applause) NOTE Paragraph 00:07:40.858 --> 00:07:43.611 So I've been put on private jets, flown around the world, 00:07:43.635 --> 00:07:45.700 and yet, it's not been that easy 00:07:45.724 --> 00:07:48.796 because at times, I've been homeless, 00:07:48.820 --> 00:07:50.182 I've been spat at, 00:07:50.206 --> 00:07:52.096 I've been abused, sometimes daily, 00:07:52.120 --> 00:07:54.008 bullied my entire life, 00:07:54.032 --> 00:07:56.494 rejected by countless individuals, 00:07:56.518 --> 00:07:58.404 and I've been stabbed. 00:07:58.428 --> 00:08:00.334 But what hurt the most 00:08:00.358 --> 00:08:02.517 was being put on the "Worst Dressed" list. NOTE Paragraph 00:08:02.541 --> 00:08:05.751 (Laughter) NOTE Paragraph 00:08:05.775 --> 00:08:08.106 It can be hard, being yourself, 00:08:08.130 --> 00:08:09.903 but I've found it's the best way. NOTE Paragraph 00:08:09.927 --> 00:08:11.284 There's the "Worst Dressed." NOTE Paragraph 00:08:11.308 --> 00:08:12.854 (Laughs) NOTE Paragraph 00:08:13.768 --> 00:08:16.371 As the quote goes, "Everyone else is already taken." 00:08:17.128 --> 00:08:20.415 I've come to realize that confidence is a concept you can choose. 00:08:20.991 --> 00:08:25.121 I've come to realize that authenticity is necessary, and it's powerful. 00:08:26.206 --> 00:08:29.244 I've tried to spend time being like other people. 00:08:29.741 --> 00:08:30.981 It didn't work. 00:08:31.362 --> 00:08:33.705 It's a lot of hard work, not being yourself. NOTE Paragraph 00:08:35.600 --> 00:08:37.340 I have a few questions for you all. 00:08:38.612 --> 00:08:39.762 Who are you? 00:08:41.074 --> 00:08:42.878 How many versions of you are there? 00:08:43.850 --> 00:08:46.272 And I have one final question: 00:08:47.031 --> 00:08:50.040 Are you using them all to your advantage? NOTE Paragraph 00:08:51.503 --> 00:08:55.163 In reality, everyone is capable of creating their own masterpiece. 00:08:55.847 --> 00:08:57.628 You should try it sometime. 00:08:57.652 --> 00:08:58.802 It's quite fun. NOTE Paragraph 00:08:59.453 --> 00:09:00.604 Thank you. NOTE Paragraph 00:09:00.628 --> 00:09:05.841 (Applause and cheers)