A couple of months ago I had the opportunity of giving a presentation in front of film producers and experts in the field of sustainability. I decided to talk about two things:
- An excerpt from an interview with Bill Gates about his mother: Mary Maxwell Gates;
- A fascinating research titled “If Money Doesn’t Make You Happy, Consider Time.”, by three researchers of the Stanford Graduate School of Business;
At the marriage of Bill, Mary gave her daughter in law a little paper with the text: “From those to whom much is given, much is expected.”.
Parents of Bill Gates, Bill Sr. Gates and Mary Maxwell Gates
The research shows that the slower you breathe the more time you have to get things done. It also shows people are more happy when they spend time with people they love. I think you should read it.
In my presentation I urged the audience to think about those topics.
Today I’m packing my bags for New York City, next week this city will be my new home. I’m leaving Delft and my friends behind. Because as Mary simply points out: if you have a lot, much is expected. I want to simply create a platform for artists how a world could look when ads are replaced by arts by turning Times Square in Art Square. Fast breathing (mass consumption, flashing billboards) replaced by slow breathing (personal expression, one artwork covering all of the square). I wish to create a world where we have more ‘time’ to reflect on today’s crisises (food, climate, energy and economic).
Last year with Alexander Bakkes I entered the square for the first time.
It may sound very abstract. But replacing all billboards in Times Square with one single artwork, will gain as much attention as a G20 or an important UN-summit. We can make a much bigger statement and it doesn’t need endless reports, speeches. This moment in our lives people capable of looking different at things will take stage.
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