ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Magda Sayeg - Textile artist
Magda Sayeg uses handmade, eye-catching yarn bombs to shake up the way we see the world and make us notice things we hadn't seen before.

Why you should listen

Considered to be the mother of yarn bombing, Magda Sayeg’s 10-year body of work includes the widely recognized knitted/crocheted covered bus in Mexico City as well as her first solo exhibit in Rome at La Museo des Esposizione. Her work has evolved to include large scale installations around the world including commissions and collaborations with companies such as Commes Des Garçons, CR Fashionbook, Absolut Vodka, Insight 51, Mini Cooper, Gap, Smart Car. She continues to participate in shows such as Milan's Triennale Design Museum, Le M.U.R. in Paris and the National Gallery of Australia, among others. Her installations have also been featured prominently at American monuments to contemporary culture, such as The Standard Hotel, South By Southwest and the Austin City Limits Festival.

Magda has most recently expanded her artwork to encompass new mediums and techniques as with her solo show in Rome, which explored the usage of lighting with knitted material. She continues to expand her boundaries by joining integrated media company 1stAveMachine as one of their directors which will serve as a platform for new types of experimentation and collaboration.

Recent projects include an installation for Dover Street Market in NYC covering a column spanning 6 floors and a knitted/crocheted Route Master Double Decker bus in London.

More profile about the speaker
Magda Sayeg | Speaker | TED.com
TEDYouth 2015

Magda Sayeg: How yarn bombing grew into a worldwide movement

瑪格妲.賽耶: 針織塗鴉如何席捲全球

Filmed:
1,427,235 views

用彩色的針織和編織作品裝飾一些周遭的物品,紡織藝術家瑪格妲.賽耶把城市環境化成了她的遊樂場。這些溫暖、毛茸茸的「針織毛球」,從賽耶家附近的停車標示柱和消防栓低調地開始,但人們對這手工藝的一脈相應,迅速地席捲世界各地。「我們都生活在這個瞬息萬變的數位世界,但是我們仍然熱中並渴望一些聯繫和聯結。」 賽耶說。「潛藏的力量其實無處不在,我們都擁有亟待發掘的潛能。」
- Textile artist
Magda Sayeg uses handmade, eye-catching yarn bombs to shake up the way we see the world and make us notice things we hadn't seen before. Full bio

Double-click the English transcript below to play the video.

00:13
I'm a textile紡織品 artist藝術家
0
1480
1576
我是紡織藝術家,
00:15
most widely廣泛 known已知 for starting開始
the yarn bombing轟炸 movement運動.
1
3080
2976
開創了針織塗鴉而廣為人知。
00:18
Yarn bombing轟炸 is when you take
knitted針織的 or crocheted鉤編 material材料
2
6080
2936
針織塗鴉是把針織或鉤針的材料
00:21
out into the urban城市的 environment環境,
graffiti-style塗鴉風格 --
3
9040
2336
以塗鴉的方式帶入城市環境裡。
00:23
or, more specifically特別,
4
11400
1216
或是,更準確地說
00:24
without permission允許 and unsanctioned未經批准.
5
12640
2296
沒有得到容許和批准。
00:26
But when I started開始 this over 10 years年份 ago,
6
14960
2856
但是在10年前,
我開始這個活動的時候,
00:29
I didn't have a word for it,
7
17840
1536
我沒有給它命名,
00:31
I didn't have any
ambitious有雄心 notions概念 about it,
8
19400
2136
我沒有什麼野心的主張,
00:33
I had no visions願景 of grandeur富麗堂皇.
9
21560
1536
我沒有什麼宏偉的遠見。
00:35
All I wanted to see was something
warm and fuzzy模糊 and human-like類人
10
23120
4376
我只是想要看到一些
溫暖、毛茸茸、人性化的東西
00:39
on the cold, steel, gray灰色 facade正面
that I looked看著 at everyday每天.
11
27520
3440
纏綣每天看起來冷冰、鋼筋、
灰濛濛的那些表面。
00:43
So I wrapped包裹 the door handle處理.
12
31320
1439
所以我裹起了門的把手。
00:45
I call this the AlphaΑ Piece.
13
33560
1600
將它命名為始初的作品。
00:47
Little did I know that this tiny piece
would change更改 the course課程 of my life.
14
35960
3480
但從沒有想過,這樣的
一件小物改寫了我的人生。
00:52
So clearly明確地 the reaction反應 was interesting有趣.
15
40040
1936
這回事引起的回應非常有趣。
00:54
It intrigued好奇 me and I thought,
"What else其他 could I do?"
16
42000
2524
我很好奇,心想:
「我還能做些什麼呢?」
00:56
Could I do something in the public上市 domain
that would get the same相同 reaction反應?
17
44548
4188
要是我在公共場所這樣做,
會引起同樣的回應嗎?
01:00
So I wrapped包裹 the stop sign標誌
pole near my house.
18
48760
2560
所以我裹起了住家附近的
一支停車標示杆。
01:03
The reaction反應 was wild野生.
19
51880
1416
這引發了狂熱的回應。
01:05
People would park公園 their cars汽車
20
53320
2056
大家會把車子停好,
01:07
and get out of their cars汽車 and stare at it,
21
55400
2376
走下車來,盯著這杆,
01:09
and scratch their heads and stare at it,
22
57800
1936
搔著自己的頭,盯著這杆,
01:11
and take pictures圖片 of it
and take pictures圖片 next下一個 to it,
23
59760
2496
拍下這杆並且人杆合照,
01:14
and all of that was really exciting扣人心弦 to me
24
62280
1976
這些都讓我感到很興奮,
01:16
and I wanted to do every一切 stop sign標誌 pole
in the neighborhood鄰里.
25
64280
3016
所以我意圖把附近每一支
停車標示杆都裹起來。
01:19
And the more that I did,
the stronger the reaction反應.
26
67320
2600
我裹得越多,人們的反應就越強烈。
01:22
So at this point I'm smitten重拳出擊.
27
70800
1496
因此在這刻,我傾倒了。
01:24
I'm hooked迷上.
28
72320
1256
好過癮喲。
01:25
This was all seductive妖媚.
29
73600
1256
這一切都無比吸引我。
01:26
I found發現 my new passion
30
74880
1736
我有了新的愛好,
01:28
and the urban城市的 environment環境
was my playground操場.
31
76640
2120
整個城市環境就是我的遊樂場。
01:31
So this is some of my early work.
32
79760
1600
這些是我早期的作品。
01:35
I was very curious好奇 about this idea理念
of enhancing提高 the ordinary普通,
33
83040
3016
我對這個主意很好奇:
就是去美化日常中平凡無奇,
01:38
the mundane平凡, even the ugly醜陋,
34
86080
1736
甚至是醜陋的事物,
01:39
and not taking服用 away its identity身分
or its functionality功能
35
87840
3656
在保留其自身特徵或是功能的情況下,
01:43
but just giving it a well-tailored精心定制
suit適合 out of knitting針織.
36
91520
3376
給它量身編織一件優質的外衣。
01:46
And this was fun開玩笑 for me.
37
94920
1736
這對我來說很有趣。
01:48
It was really fun開玩笑
to take inanimate老成 objects對象
38
96680
2256
能夠把那些老氣橫秋的物品
01:50
and have them come to life.
39
98960
1680
轉化成為生氣盎然,多有趣。
01:53
So ...
40
101440
1416
所以呢...
01:54
I think we all see the humor幽默 in this,
41
102880
1856
我想大家都看出了其中的幽默,
01:56
but --
42
104760
1216
但是...
01:58
(Laughter笑聲)
43
106000
1096
(笑聲)
01:59
I was at a point where
I wanted to take it seriously認真地.
44
107120
2696
我當時希望更認真推展針織塗鴉,
02:01
I wanted to analyze分析 it.
45
109840
1256
我希望去分析針織塗鴉這行為。
02:03
I wanted to know why I was letting出租
this take over my life,
46
111120
2736
我想了解自己為什麼容許
針織塗鴉主宰我的生活、
為什麼我會這樣沉醉、
02:05
why I was passionate多情 about it,
47
113880
1456
為什麼人們會有這樣熱切的回應。
02:07
why were other people
reacting反應 so strongly非常 to it.
48
115360
2536
02:09
And I realized實現 something.
49
117920
1280
我從中頓悟了一些事。
02:11
We all live生活 in this
fast-paced快節奏, digital數字 world世界,
50
119800
2896
我們都生活在這個
瞬息萬變的數位世界,
02:14
but we still crave渴望 and desire慾望
something that's relatable聽上去很像.
51
122720
3560
但是我們仍然熱中
並渴望一些聯繫和聯結。
02:18
I think we've我們已經 all become成為 desensitized脫敏
52
126680
2736
我想我們都住在過度發展的都市裡,
02:21
by our overdeveloped過度開發
cities城市 that we live生活 in,
53
129440
2576
環境讓我們都變得麻木,
02:24
and billboards廣告牌 and advertisements廣告,
54
132040
2776
過於習慣那些大型告示板、廣告牌、
02:26
and giant巨人 parking停車處 lots,
55
134840
1616
和大型停車場,
02:28
and we don't even complain抱怨
about that stuff東東 anymore.
56
136480
2856
麻木得都已經不再抱怨了。
02:31
So when you stumble絆倒 upon
57
139360
1256
所以當你無意間遇上
02:32
a stop sign標誌 pole
that's wrapped包裹 in knitting針織
58
140640
2336
一支裹上了針織物的停車標示杆時,
02:35
and it seems似乎 so out of place地點
59
143000
1696
看起來好不搭嘎,
02:36
and then gradually逐漸 -- weirdly古怪 --
60
144720
1856
但是慢慢地、奇怪地,
02:38
you find a connection連接 to it,
61
146600
1816
你會找到與它的關連,
02:40
that is the moment時刻.
62
148440
1216
就是那瞬間。
02:41
That is the moment時刻 I love
63
149680
1216
那是我愛的瞬間
02:42
and that is the moment時刻
I love to share分享 with others其他.
64
150920
2440
那是我愛和其他人一起分享的瞬間。
02:46
So at this point, my curiosity好奇心 grew成長.
65
154280
3136
那個時候,我的好奇愈來愈強。
02:49
It went from the fire hydrants消防栓
and the stop sign標誌 poles
66
157440
2776
從消防栓和停車標示杆
02:52
to what else其他 can I do with this material材料.
67
160240
1953
到我如何能更善用針織物料,
02:54
Can I do something big
and large-scale大規模 and insurmountable不可逾越?
68
162217
3999
然後再進一步做大規模、
難以駕馭的物品嗎?
02:58
So that's when the bus總線 happened發生.
69
166240
2480
所以,這輛公車就誕生了。
03:03
This was a real真實 game遊戲 changer for me.
70
171240
2016
這是我的轉捩點。
03:05
I'll always have a soft柔軟的 spot
in my heart for this one.
71
173280
2816
我內心深處對這公車總會有所偏愛。
03:08
At this point, people
were recognizing認識 my work
72
176120
2176
那個時候,我的作品已經廣為人知,
03:10
but there wasn't much out there
73
178320
1496
但這樣大規模、
03:11
that was wrapped包裹 in knitting針織
that was large-scale大規模,
74
179840
2376
用針織裹起來的作品少之又少。
這肯定是第一輛
用針織裹起來的城市公車。
03:14
and this definitely無疑 was the first
city bus總線 to be wrapped包裹 in knitting針織.
75
182240
3256
那時候,我開始體會、
03:17
So at this point, I'm experiencing經歷,
76
185520
1736
03:19
or I'm witnessing見證 something interesting有趣.
77
187280
2056
看到了一些有趣的現象。
03:21
I may可能 have started開始 yarn bombing轟炸
but I certainly當然 don't own擁有 it anymore.
78
189360
3416
我大概開創了針織塗鴉是沒錯,
但是很明顯,它已經不只屬於我了。
03:24
It had reached到達 global全球 status狀態.
79
192800
1536
針織塗鴉有著自己全球性的地位。
03:26
People from all over the world世界
were doing this.
80
194360
2191
世界各地的人都在針織塗鴉。
03:28
And I know this because I would travel旅行
to certain某些 parts部分 of the world世界
81
196575
3191
我知道有這個情況是因為
我到某些從未去過的地方旅行時,
03:31
that I'd never been to,
82
199790
1166
我會偶遇某支停車標示杆,
而我知道,那並不是我裹的。
03:32
and I'd stumble絆倒 upon a stop sign標誌 pole
and I knew知道 I didn't wrap it.
83
200981
3134
03:36
So as I pursued追求的
my own擁有 goals目標 with my art藝術 --
84
204139
4117
所以,我用藝術去實踐自己的目標──
03:40
this is a lot of my recent最近 work --
85
208280
1920
這很多是我近期的作品──
03:43
so was yarn bombing轟炸.
86
211160
1216
針織塗鴉也跟我一樣。
03:44
Yarn bombing轟炸 was also growing生長.
87
212400
1456
針織塗鴉仍然在成長。
03:45
And that experience經驗 showed顯示 me
the hidden power功率 of this craft手藝
88
213880
4336
這份體驗讓我發現手工藝的潛在力量,
03:50
and showed顯示 me
89
218240
1736
也讓我知道
03:52
that there was this common共同 language語言
I had with the rest休息 of the world世界.
90
220000
3880
我和世界有一種共通語言。
03:57
It was through通過 this granny奶奶 hobby愛好 --
91
225360
2256
透過這項奶奶般的手工藝興趣──
03:59
this unassuming謙遜 hobby愛好 --
92
227640
2136
一項平淡樸實的興趣──
04:01
that I found發現 commonality共性 with people
93
229800
2896
成為了本來和我毫不相干的人
04:04
that I never thought
I'd have a connection連接 with.
94
232720
2560
之間的一份聯繫。
04:08
So as I tell my story故事 today今天,
95
236280
2616
今天我訴說著自己的故事,
04:10
I'd also like to convey傳達 to you
96
238920
1456
借此向你們傳達一個訊息:
04:12
that hidden power功率 can be found發現
in the most unassuming謙遜 places地方,
97
240400
3416
潛在的力量往往出現
在最平凡不過的地方,
04:15
and we all possess具有 skills技能
that are just waiting等候 to be discovered發現.
98
243840
3240
我們同樣也潛藏有待發掘的本領。
04:19
If you think about our hands,
these tools工具 that are connected連接的 to us,
99
247600
3176
想想我們的雙手,
這些與我們相連的工具,
04:22
and what they're capable of doing --
100
250800
2376
雙手能夠做到的事──
04:25
building建造 houses房屋 and furniture家具,
101
253200
1656
建構房屋和家具、
04:26
and painting繪畫 giant巨人 murals壁畫 --
102
254880
1576
繪製巨型的壁畫──
04:28
and most of the time
we hold保持 a controller調節器 or a cell細胞 phone電話.
103
256480
3656
但在絕大部分的時間,
我們手握的是遙控器或手機,
04:32
And I'm totally完全 guilty有罪 of this as well.
104
260160
2576
我自己也是一樣。
04:34
But if you think about it,
105
262760
1296
但你們再想一想,
04:36
what would happen發生
if you put those things down?
106
264080
2216
把遙控器和手機放下來,會怎麼樣呢?
04:38
What would you make?
What would you create創建 with your own擁有 hands?
107
266320
2960
你會做什麼?你會用雙手創造什麼?
04:42
A lot of people think
that I am a master knitter織毛衣
108
270040
2296
很多人以為我是編織大師,
04:44
but I actually其實 couldn't不能 knit針織
a sweater毛線衣 to save保存 my life.
109
272360
3056
但事實上,我連織件毛衣
為自己禦寒都不會。
04:47
But I did something
interesting有趣 with knitting針織
110
275440
2136
但是我用針織做了滿有趣的事情,
04:49
that had never been doneDONE before.
111
277600
1816
而這是之前沒有人做過的。
04:51
I also wasn't "supposed應該 to be" an artist藝術家
112
279440
2456
我本來也「不應該是」藝術家,
04:53
in the sense that I wasn't
formally正式地 trained熟練 to do this --
113
281920
3416
因為我沒有受過正統的藝術訓練──
04:57
I'm a math數學 major重大的 actually其實.
114
285360
1616
事實上,我主修的是數學。
04:59
So I didn't think
this was in the cards for me,
115
287000
2856
所以我從沒料到會自己會做這樣的事,
05:01
but I also know that I didn't
stumble絆倒 upon this.
116
289880
2936
但我也沒有因此而絆倒。
05:04
And when this happened發生 to me,
I held保持 on tight,
117
292840
2456
當發生在我身上的的時候,
我就好好把握,努力不懈,
05:07
I fought戰鬥 for it and I'm proud驕傲 to say
that I am a working加工 artist藝術家 today今天.
118
295320
3920
並且可以很驕傲地說
我現在是專職的藝術家。
05:12
So as we ponder思考 the future未來,
119
300040
2760
當我們在思量未來的時候,
05:15
know that your future未來
might威力 not be so seamless無縫.
120
303280
2191
要明白未來不一定順遂。
05:17
And one day, you might威力
be as bored無聊 as I was
121
305495
3001
某一天,你也許會和我一樣悶壞了,
05:20
and knit針織 a door handle處理
to change更改 your world世界 forever永遠.
122
308520
3376
裹織起一個門把,
從此改寫了你們的人生。
05:23
Thank you.
123
311920
1216
謝謝。
05:25
(Applause掌聲)
124
313160
3816
(掌聲)
Translated by lisa li
Reviewed by Adrienne Lin

▲Back to top

ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Magda Sayeg - Textile artist
Magda Sayeg uses handmade, eye-catching yarn bombs to shake up the way we see the world and make us notice things we hadn't seen before.

Why you should listen

Considered to be the mother of yarn bombing, Magda Sayeg’s 10-year body of work includes the widely recognized knitted/crocheted covered bus in Mexico City as well as her first solo exhibit in Rome at La Museo des Esposizione. Her work has evolved to include large scale installations around the world including commissions and collaborations with companies such as Commes Des Garçons, CR Fashionbook, Absolut Vodka, Insight 51, Mini Cooper, Gap, Smart Car. She continues to participate in shows such as Milan's Triennale Design Museum, Le M.U.R. in Paris and the National Gallery of Australia, among others. Her installations have also been featured prominently at American monuments to contemporary culture, such as The Standard Hotel, South By Southwest and the Austin City Limits Festival.

Magda has most recently expanded her artwork to encompass new mediums and techniques as with her solo show in Rome, which explored the usage of lighting with knitted material. She continues to expand her boundaries by joining integrated media company 1stAveMachine as one of their directors which will serve as a platform for new types of experimentation and collaboration.

Recent projects include an installation for Dover Street Market in NYC covering a column spanning 6 floors and a knitted/crocheted Route Master Double Decker bus in London.

More profile about the speaker
Magda Sayeg | Speaker | TED.com