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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 screens of Times Square to the bodies of New York City Ballet dancers — Martin shares how she found freedom and a new perspective through art. See how drawing can connect your hand to your heart and deepen your connection with the world.
The TED Talks channel features the best talks and performances from the TED Conference, where the world’s leading thinkers and doers give the talk of their lives in 18 minutes (or less). Look for talks on Technology, Entertainment and Design — plus science, business, global issues, the arts and more. You’re welcome to link to or embed these videos, forward them to others and share these ideas with people you know. For more information on using TED for commercial purposes (e.g. employee learning, in a film or online course), submit a Media Request here:
graham mewburn
July 21, 2020 at 8:46 pm
I understand. I have a mental illness and this causes me to be different.
I’m passionate about finding truth.
In a world running on lies a lover of truth is also alienated.
Almost 20 years ago I learnt about ‘Peak oil’.
For over 10 years I spent too much time investigating the matter.
The discovery of oil peaked in 1964.
In 2019 Rystad Energy reported that the global discovery of oil had declined to 9 billion barrels PA. Enough to run the world for 3 months.
We cannot pump undiscovered oil.
Therefore we will soon experience demand for oil exceeding supply. The price will escalate and oil products will become unaffordable.
Eventually oil products will be ESSENTIAL SERVICES ONLY.
Please Google:-
Green revolution.
When I was born in 1948 there were 2 billion people living on planet Earth. Now there are 7 billion. Yes in my lifetime the global population has tripled.
The”Green revolution” made that possible.
The coming oil crisis will negatively impact the Green revolution. World food production will collapse – Global Famine.
Please grow your own food.
Regards Gray
Australia
Crystal Elk
July 21, 2020 at 8:47 pm
Shantell, so nice to see your beautiful smiling face! Really have missed seeing you on YouTube. Wondering what’s new with you? Are you in NYC?
Sending positive vibes your way 🙏.
Peace love dream’s 🇨🇦!
💞🌐📷📽️⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐💯🌅🌎💜🌍💚🌏🌄🕊️💗🐑🎬😉
Tori Orchard
July 21, 2020 at 8:48 pm
Yes!! I’m so glad I found you! Makes me proud to be an artist
NeoTheReal ONE
July 21, 2020 at 9:00 pm
Did anyone recognise that were she lived was in kingsman
Alfie _666
July 21, 2020 at 11:08 pm
I’m not sure if it was the same one. There are a lot of places that look like that all across the UK.
Shadia Alshawesh
July 21, 2020 at 9:17 pm
Impressive 👌🖤….I take a 🖍🖊🖋 will see where it takes me^_^
xeraph02
July 21, 2020 at 9:19 pm
Dunno but when I do art, comic for example, I really hate the process, re-drawing and stressing constantly if it looks great or if I ever will be able to finish it lol. But I can’t help myself, when I get the idea I need to materialize it on paper to feel free afterwards. To get rid of the idea out of my head.
A Gay Has No Name
July 21, 2020 at 9:25 pm
Why ur so handsome?????
Mustak Ahmed
July 21, 2020 at 9:40 pm
She just created her own style of art.. Beautiful and inspiring!!
Shaun Riley
July 21, 2020 at 9:44 pm
Drawing MAGA is very therapeutic, releases alot of stress from these filthy progressive hordes that are destroying our cities and families
catamountcarpet
July 21, 2020 at 9:49 pm
Teaching people to see, in and of itself, is such a gifgt
Hanane
July 21, 2020 at 10:04 pm
I know her thanks to Casey Neistat , I wish her a long road of success
Stergios Dikos
July 21, 2020 at 10:10 pm
Thanks for sharing your beautiful story!
Llia's Art
July 21, 2020 at 10:53 pm
I’m so grateful that i found this video😭
Calixte de Miribel
July 21, 2020 at 10:53 pm
inspiring! thx 🙂
Ligia Sommers
July 21, 2020 at 11:04 pm
Wordefully inspiring 🙏🏻💖🌷
Alfie _666
July 21, 2020 at 11:08 pm
What pens does she use?
Shawki
July 21, 2020 at 11:12 pm
Shantell, You are Amazing!
fghelmke
July 21, 2020 at 11:13 pm
Life is so easy! Just draw lines and keep on moving until you get famous, ha! I am really happy how things have worked out in your life! And you are a great proof how art can set you free, how you can follow your very own style! So good to be yourself and not copy others!
Taha Babikir
July 21, 2020 at 11:57 pm
Minoritizing yourself is really monetizing. Being gay became a narcissist’s tool.
Ben Aqua
July 22, 2020 at 12:17 am
This resonates very deeply 💛💛💛
PresidentialWinner
July 22, 2020 at 12:19 am
The moral of the story: Japan is awesome. By the way, you say you were only another Gaijin there. No racism, no sexism, no homophobia. But ironically Japan is one of the most homogeneous societies on earth. Most of their foreigners are from rich or developed countries and of course most tourists are well off. But ask yourself this: If they had millions of Muslims pillaging their country, would they would act very differently towards outsiders? Especially non-white ones? Would they be more xenophobic?
PresidentialWinner
July 22, 2020 at 12:21 am
Not to take anything away from her but that art is…easy!
Startup Funding Event Global
July 22, 2020 at 12:35 am
During these tough times, we need more talks like these! Keep it up! Draw with your heart 🙂
MARK O
July 22, 2020 at 12:42 am
She still exudes a lot of anger. Whew! I hope she can find a touch of tolerance for people in her past, especially herself when she realizes love.
Think Different — Thought Provoking Ideas
July 22, 2020 at 1:09 am
“When people don’t express themselves, they die one piece at a time.”
― Laurie Halse Anderson
N
July 22, 2020 at 6:14 am
Sorry, stopped watching after her saying that Japan has less of a class system than London. That’s like someone saying that Denmark wasn’t socialist enough for them so they moved to the US.
Domas A
July 22, 2020 at 9:07 am
Does art for living and believes she can move up the social ladder. Smh 🤦♂️
Linda Chatrin Petersen
July 22, 2020 at 6:26 am
Fantastic story, but we cant all be drawing…. 💜
Janessa Maison
July 22, 2020 at 6:52 am
Bravo 🙌🏾☺️✨💕 that was very inspiring ✨☺️💪🏾
AVD 08
July 22, 2020 at 7:41 am
Express yourself is the biggest lesson from this video.
Errant Cognition
July 22, 2020 at 7:45 am
that hair though…
edit: “gay” – ahhh, it all makes sense now
Dr.A.Xavier john
July 22, 2020 at 7:45 am
Mohammed Abdul moid adnan
July 22, 2020 at 7:49 am
Those are just scribbles right
Iwan walimban
July 22, 2020 at 8:40 am
it reminded me….
Oleg Shalguev
July 22, 2020 at 9:27 am
She complains about not equal opportunities (I suppose her family was poor), but she get opportunity to:
1. Rise her drawing skills;
2. Get education;
3. Draw her own room’s walls (remember poor family?);
4. Move to Japan;
5. Move to NY;
6. Became famous artist who works for corporations and do them marketing for big money.
_
Yeah, this world has no equal opportunities, I see now.
Speak Sassy English
July 22, 2020 at 9:31 am
I know its silly but i started crying looking at how unknown and mystery life is!
S walker
July 22, 2020 at 9:38 am
When people just doodle and say it’s art….
Youre Welcome
July 22, 2020 at 10:54 am
When people attend a prestigious school in London, become famous, then whine about inequality and how unfair the world is….
Ivar Zanzibar
July 22, 2020 at 10:55 am
You seem to be mistaken. Sure your impression may be that it looks like a doodle, but have you considered how consistent her way of working is? How every work in the video seems identical yet is diverse in the sense of concept? It’s not easy to have such a simple yet consistent style because there is enough room for a little mistake to make the piece feel like a mistake as opposed to her other works.
Thunderbolt Forever
July 22, 2020 at 9:50 am
tato on girl’s leg
Marx Engels
July 22, 2020 at 9:59 am
Those who agree with her drawings, how to called it be a michel angelo work?
hownow browncow
July 22, 2020 at 10:13 am
Seems rather derivative of Peter Max with less dynamics.
martins apsitis
July 22, 2020 at 11:35 am
Tops!
ITouchTheSky 8GladysWorld8
July 22, 2020 at 11:44 am
You have an amazing creativity , not only using your pen, but your sensitivity, great heart and mind. I love you draw the infinite lines, curves, etc. Lovely watching and listening to you here on the top of the mountain of Italy.
Let's Be Frank
July 22, 2020 at 12:18 pm
Art set me free when I was at my lowest point.
RANDY翔宇
July 22, 2020 at 1:19 pm
What a modern Picasso!
Mm23 1235
July 22, 2020 at 2:40 pm
ولد ولا بنت ؟
theSteinke
July 22, 2020 at 4:00 pm
Thank you for the video. I tried it. It feals good, without any pressure or goal
Manasi Gupta
July 22, 2020 at 4:44 pm
This is beautiful, your story is so inspiring. Maybe our individuality has the power to bring people together.
Raffaele Filosofi
July 22, 2020 at 7:38 pm
It seems to me your work as an artist has greatly gained value from the terrible racist isolation you suffered in the first place. Perhaps had you started in your New York promised land you would have remained invisible forever.
Sergej Niestler
July 22, 2020 at 8:00 pm
У девушки своеобразный стиль. Она аутист?
Kevin Dunnell
July 22, 2020 at 10:43 pm
Crap.
Jessica M
July 22, 2020 at 10:48 pm
why the grudge in the beginning, life is a gift.
Jehudi Phillips
July 23, 2020 at 1:38 am
Hurray for drawing!
Larry
July 23, 2020 at 2:18 am
You better hope you Landlord doesn’t see this video with you painting crap on his walls! He may have a ‘notice to vacate” for your next rent day, or forget that security deposit!
Michael David Richmond
July 23, 2020 at 7:52 am
Lives in public flats payed for by others taxes, goes to top art school in London. This society is sexist, racists, and hates me.
SWEETGA BROWNIN
July 23, 2020 at 11:52 am
Thank you Shantell! Your artistry is beautiful and therapeutic 💙💙
Arcturus Wolf
July 23, 2020 at 1:31 pm
I love to draw, but lately, I have zero motivation to do so.
Get In
July 23, 2020 at 2:56 pm
Going from racist London to racist New York, you jumped from the frying pan into the fire.
Much more success to you wherever you are.
Iris Hernández
July 23, 2020 at 3:05 pm
Thanks!!!
Bajirao Singham
July 23, 2020 at 3:36 pm
Her work reminds me of this Artist I saw on Instagram I think he is known as “Mr.Doodle”. But I’m sure If I had stumbled upon her work first, he’d be reminding me of her. Somewhat similar style but totally different message and impact.
Jesslman45
July 23, 2020 at 4:49 pm
Shantell you found your greatness from within. Thats where it has always sat, even though the world would try and make you believe other wise. I love your message from one artist to another!
Navjot kaur
July 23, 2020 at 8:03 pm
Lovely
Healthy On A Budget
July 23, 2020 at 11:08 pm
Brilliant!
your life is your fault.
July 24, 2020 at 5:23 am
Want to experience racism? Just be white & walk through a majority blk neighborhood, like the one I grew up in.
Wear comfortable shoes, laced tight.
Jaydee Bain
July 24, 2020 at 12:53 pm
I love her story!
snowballjones
July 24, 2020 at 1:49 pm
Japan is both a highly sexist and highly racist society. This is an extremely bizarre take.
Lisa Love Ministries
July 24, 2020 at 2:16 pm
Who the Son sets free is free indeed.
John 8:36
Julian Rosado
July 24, 2020 at 11:46 pm
This video really inspired me love the message❤💛💚
Cindy García
July 26, 2020 at 2:00 am
I draw everyday and it keeps me sane ☝🏻
roselyn barrion
July 26, 2020 at 10:16 am
When you want to grow in art but materials you need to improve is so expensive. 🙁
Yuppi
July 26, 2020 at 3:57 pm
So essentially she took her time to figure out how to put herself in the existing world and find value in herself, instead of escaping the world to become herself. Good journey.