In her TEDx talk, “5 things photography helps you appreciate in life,” Felisa Tan shares her journey of self-discovery through the lens of a camera. From a young age, she was captivated by visual arts, but it wasn’t until she discovered photography at the age of 14 that she found a profound passion for capturing the world around her. Through photography, Felisa learned valuable life lessons that have shaped her perspective on existence.
She emphasizes five crucial virtues that photography has taught her: curiosity, honesty, love, generosity, and remembering impermanence. Each concept is intricately woven into the fabric of her art and personal growth. She urges the audience to embrace the beauty of transience and impermanence, urging them to find meaning in the fleeting moments of life.
Through her insightful and introspective talk, Felisa challenges the audience to reflect on their own journey and ask themselves: what kind of meaning do you intend to make out of this life? Photography, for Felisa Tan, is not just about capturing images—it’s about capturing moments of truth, beauty, and transformation that can enrich our lives in profound ways.
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Author Video Description
‘Photography may seem like pictures, but it is all the more, a realm of ideas.’
In her talk, Felisa shares about the life lessons she has learned after over 15 years of being behind the camera. Through her poetic narrative, which is accompanied by captivating images, she invites us to contemplate not only on our preconceptions about photography as an art form, but also on the universal truths that we so often overlook in our habitual tendencies―aligned with the spirit of her book ‘In Search for Meaning’.
Felisa Tan (b. 1993–) is a self-taught artist-photographer and writer based in Jakarta, Indonesia. Beginning with making photographs at home and posting them regularly on DeviantArt in 2007, photography has become a language she chooses to express her love for the world with. Having been exposed to extensive travels to over 50 countries since a tender age, she has developed a deep appreciation for different cultures and perspectives.
The breadth of her subjects is a reflection of her sensitivity to perceive beauty, even in the most ordinary places. Through her work, she hopes to inspire her audience to pause and cherish the myriad blessings that might otherwise be left unnoticed in a world of noise.
Her debut book ‘In Search for Meaning’ was published in March 2023 by Goff Books, an imprint of ORO Editions.
This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at http://ted.com/tedx
About TEDxTalks
TEDx is an international community that organizes TED-style events anywhere and everywhere — celebrating locally-driven ideas and elevating them to a global stage. TEDx events are produced independently of TED conferences, each event curates speakers on their own, but based on TED’s format and rules.
Video “5 things photography helps you appreciate in life | Felisa Tan | TEDxYouth@SWA” was uploaded on 05/17/2024 to Youtube Channel TEDx Talks