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[Music]
MAIRA KALMAN: What is the difference between thinking and feeling?
[Music]
Half the time, I don't know what's going on, but I love it. I think about the idea of feelings
versus thinking a lot, though I should say I feel about that a lot, but I don't. I think
about that a lot and whenever I think about it too much, I think stop thinking, this is
a very dangerous moment. This will end badly. So stop thinking, which usually I associate
with some kind of problem and just do whatever it is that you think you need to do and so
I allow my brain to empty which usually means taking a walk and movement and the journey
that you allow yourself to enter and all of a sudden your brain is clear and empty and
wonderful things happen when your brain is empty.
[Footsteps]
I walk everywhere in the city. Any city. You see everything you need to see for a lifetime.
Every emotion, every condition, every fashion, every glory. I'm always aware of the vulnerability
of people and the heroism, the struggle to walk down the street, the choice of clothing,
the where are they are going, what are they doing, who are they talking to? Walking enables
your senses to really pick up lots of things and you can feel your body going through space.
I'm sure there's some kind of explanation for it in physics or biochemistry or something
like that, but walking clears your brain and fills your soul and makes you quite happy
actually. A lot of what my work is is waiting for the unexpected and to be surprised to
be walking down the street and not know what I'm going to see and go, oh, a-ha! That's—that's
what I was gonna see today. That's what I was supposed to see today. When you see something
that makes your heart go, oh my God, that's really fantastic, then why wouldn't you record
that even if it wasn't supposed to be a part of the story because that's what you're responding
to. That's what's making you come to life with feeling. I'm attracted by all of the,
oh but look what he said and look what she wore and look at what they ate. What does
that mean? There's a lot going on. You can't be bored, which is a huge motivator. It's
very important not to be bored… for too long. Like more than a minute.