Artists tackle ten existential questions
Tse is the director of Yellow Earth Theatre. The company’s “Running the Silk Road”, about climate-change activists who travel to China along the ancient east-west silk trade route, is on tour until 28 June (http://www.yellowearth.org)
- 1 Does art make a difference? Art can make a difference to those willing to consider another point of view. In times of ignorance and conflict, art can save lives by reminding us of our common humanity.
- 2 Should politics and art mix? Artists are often outsiders questioning social mores. Politics impacts on many aspects of our lives, and for art to be outward-looking, it will invariably touch upon political issues.
- 3 Is your work for the many or for the few? I aim for the many. I aspire to make work that is cross-cultural, thought-provoking and entertaining, so that it innovates and challenges while being accessible to many people.
- 4 If you were world leader, what would be your first law? To enshrine the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in a stronger United Nations Charter, enforceable throughout the world.
- 5 Who would be your top advisers? Tim Smit, who created the Eden Project, for his environmental vision and entrepreneurial ability; Barack Obama, for his political vision and pragmatic idealism; Steve Jobs, the inventor of Apple, for technological innovation, style and fun; Ang Lee, Zhang Yimou, Gong Li, Tony Leung, Maggie Cheung, Meryl Streep and Woody Allen, for their art and humanity; and the Dalai Lama, for his warmth and wisdom.
- 6 What, if anything, would you censor? Anything that promoted violence as entertainment without consequences.
- 7 If you had to banish one public figure, who would it be? Robert Mugabe.
- 8 What are the rules that you live by? To treat others as I would like to be treated; to live each day as if it were my last; to have fun; to find balance. Whether I achieve these or not is another matter!
- 9 Do you love your country? I could probably love any temperate country where I felt free to express myself, and could connect with people in some meaningful way.
- 10 Are we all doomed? Unless the UN passes enforceable laws that govern sustainable development, our current trajectory may result in disaster.
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