The Ethics Incubator

*** The interview with English subtitles is available here in video [http://ethicsincubator.net/ethics-and-the-arts-interviews/2796] *** Xu Bing was born in Chongqing, China, in 1955 and traces his family roots to Wenling, Zhejiang Province. In 1977 he entered the printmaking department of the Central Academy of Fine Arts in Beijing (CAFA), where he completed his bachelor’s degree in 1981 and stayed on as an instructor while earning his MFA in 1987. In 1990, at the invitation of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, he moved to the United States. From 2008 to 2014, Xu served as the vice president of CAFA, where he is now a professor and the director of Academic Committee. He currently lives and works in Beijing and New York. Solo exhibitions of his work have been held at the Museum of Modern Art, New York, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, Washington DC; the New Museum of Contemporary Art, New York; the British Museum, London, the Victoria and Albert Museum, the Joan Miro Foundation, Spain; National Gallery of Prague and the Spencer Museum of Art, Kansas, amongst other major institutions. Additionally, Xu Bing has shown at the 45th, 51st and 56th Venice Biennales; the Biennale of Sydney and the Johannesburg Biennale amongst other international exhibitions. Over the years, Xu Bing’s work has appeared in high-school and college text-books around the world including Abram’s “Art Past – Art Present,” Gardner’s “Art Through the Ages” and Greg Clunas’s “Chinese Art” a volume in the “Oxford History of Art” series, Jane Farver’s Global Conceptualism: Points of Origin 1950s – 1980s (Queens Museum of Art Press) and Art Worlds in Dialogue (Museum Ludwig Press). In 2006, the Princeton University Press published “Persistence/Transformation: Text as Image in the Art of Xu Bing” a multidisciplinary study of Xu Bing’s landmark work “Book from the Sky.” In 2008, Professor Robert Harrist, Chair of Chinese Art at Columbia University, New York, began teaching a graduate seminar entitled “The Art of Xu Bing.” In 2011, the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts published “Xu Bing: Tobacco Project” and Albion published “Xu Bing”. In 2012, the New York University Press published “Xu Bing and Chinese Contemporary Art”(edited by Hsingyuan Cao and Roger T. Ames) and Beijing Culture and Arts Press published “Xu Bing: the Birth of the Phoenixes”(edited by Zhou Zan). In 1999, Xu Bing was awarded a MacArthur Fellowship in recognition of his “capacity to contribute importantly to society, particularly in printmaking and calligraphy.” In 2006, the Southern Graphics Council conferred on Xu Bing its lifetime achievement award in recognition of the fact that his “use of text, language and books has impacted the dialogue of the print and art worlds in significant ways.” In 2015, he was awarded the 2014 Department of State-Medal of Arts for his efforts to promote cultural understanding through his artworks. That April, he was appointed as an A.D. White Professor-at-large by Cornell University. Welcome to my conversation with Master Xu Bing The Ethics Incubator website [http://ethicsincubator.net]

Renowned author Sir Salman Rushdie needs little introduction as we look forward to his latest novel The Golden House early September 2017. His twelve novels include Midnight’s Children (1981 Brooker Prize winner and winner of the Best of the Booker—a public vote for the best in the award’s history), Haroun and the Sea of StoriesShame, The Satanic Verses, The Moor’s Last Sigh, The Ground Beneath Her Feet, Fury, Luka and the Fire of Life, Shalimar the Clown, The Enchantress of Florence, Luka and the Fire of Life, and Two Years Eight Months and Twenty-Eight Nights. He has also published non-fiction works and a collection of short stories and has co-edited two anthologies. Sir Salman is a Fellow of the British Royal Society of Literature and the American Academy of Arts and Letters. He holds the rank of Commandeur in the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (France’s highest artistic honour). His numerous awards and honours also include honorary doctorates and fellowships at six European and six American universities. He was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1997. He is an Honorary Professor at M.I.T and a Distinguished Professor at Emory University. He is currently a Distinguished Writer in Residence at New York University. Please see his full bio [http://www.salmanrushdie.com/salman-rushdie-the-author/] It is an honour to share my conversation with Sir Salman Rushdie. Watch the video interview of this podcast at [http://ethicsincubator.net/ethics-and-the-arts-interviews/salman-rushdie-interview]

Sensei Richard Amos is currently Chief Instructor of the World Traditional Karate Association (WTKO). He began studying the Japanese martial art of Shotokan Karate at the age of ten. By the age of 23 he had established himself as a champion figure on the Karate competitive scene throughout England and continental Europe. In 1989, Sensei Amos moved to Japan to pursue the coveted Japan Karate Association (JKA) instructor program. By 1994, he graduated as a JKA instructor at the headquarters dojo in Tokyo, one of only four other non-Japanese martial artists to have achieved this honor to date. In 2000, Sensei Amos started a dojo in New York City under the WTKO. He has since become one of the world’s preeminent instructors in Shotokan Karate. He leads seminars throughout Asia, Europe, and North America in addition to his commitments at his New York City dojo. He is staunchly committed to the principles of karate (including standards of behavior) as they apply in life outside the dojo as well. His forthcoming book Just Say Osu! is expected out in 2017. Welcome to my conversation with Sensei Richard Amos. Watch the video interview of this podcast at [http://ethicsincubator.net/ethics-and-the-arts-interviews/richard-amos-sensei-interview]

The Martha Graham Dance Company was founded in 1926 by Martha Graham, widely recognized as one of the greatest artists of the 20th century and creator of an iconic approach to dance based on the human body’s capacity for expression. The company continues to lead the modern dance world today, bringing together Martha’s classic choreography and costumes with today’s choreographers, technology, and audience expectations. Janet Eilber has been Martha Graham Dance Company’s Artistic Director since 2005. She was Martha’s protégé and principal dancer with the company. She has danced almost every one of Martha’s classic works and several works choreographed by Graham specifically for her. She has also had a longstanding film and stage career, directed by greats such as Agnes de Mille and Bob Fosse, performed at the White House, and received four Lester Horton Dance Awards by the Dance Resource Center of Los Angeles. Janet reflects on how Martha’s legacy fuels a forward-looking approach to modern dance: from a spotlight on the legend to a refocus on the modern, technologically savvy audience. Ethics is embedded in every aspect of the history, choreography, and audience-focused values. Ethics is indeed a part of the Martha Graham movement language. Janet also shares stories of Martha’s moral foundation, for example refusing to perform in Nazi Germany, and her use of dance to challenge those with whom she worked to be their best ethical selves. Welcome to my conversation with Ms. Janet Eilber. Watch the video interview of this podcast at [http://ethicsincubator.net/ethics-and-the-arts-interviews/janet-eilber]

Note: We sincerely apologise for difficulties with the sound quality of this video. Professor Dr. Martin Roth was Director of the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) in London from September 2011 until he stepped down to pursue other interests at the end of October 2016 after a highly successful five-year term. During his tenure, the V&A won the coveted Museum of the Year Award from the Art Fund in 2016 and has pursued an active international policy that included developing extensive networks of international partners and regional relations such as those with China, India, Russia, Qatar and Rwanda. Martin Roth’s perspective is global and inspiringly mindful of the stories behind the Museum’s extraordinary collection of over approximately three million objects from medieval times through today’s newest technology. His reflections intertwine Prince Albert’s founding mission for the V&A of improving lives through access to education and culture for all people with a focus on openness and responsibility to society today. Prior to joining the V&A, Professor Dr. Roth was Director General of the Dresden State Art Collections (Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden), a collection of 12 museums and galleries. Dr. Roth’s views on ethics and the arts also draw from his many other engagements, including serving as a personal member of the German Olympic Sports Foundation, a Trustee of the British Council, a member of the Council of the Royal College of Art and a member of the Court of Imperial College London to name a few. He was recently appointed President-elect of the Institut für Auslandsbeziehungen in Germany. Welcome to my conversation with Professor Dr. Martin Roth. Watch the video interview of this podcast at [http://ethicsincubator.net/ethics-and-the-arts-interviews/martin-roth]

Biz Stone is an award-winning entrepreneur, technologist, artist, journalist, and ethical leader best known for being Co-Founder of Twitter, Medium, and most recently Jelly Enterprises where he was also CEO until the company was recently sold to Pinterest. A self-described “Internet guy who believes in the triumph of humanity with a little help from technology,” he is a model for integrating ethics into entrepreneurship in real time. For more of Biz’s story, his entertaining book “Things a Little Bird Told Me” chronicles a journey of reflection, success and humor. Please also see his full bio at [http://www.bizstone.com]

Sarah Chang is widely lauded as one of today’s great violinists. She enrolled in the New York Juilliard School at the age of 6 and debuted with the New York Philharmonic at the age of 8 playing Paganini’s Violin Concerto No. 1 under world famous conductor Zubin Mehta. Ms. Chang has gone on to record 20 studio albums––some in collaboration with such greats as the Spanish virtuoso tenor and conductor Plácido Domingo and the American trumpeter and composer Wynton Marsalis––alongside live performances with renowned artists such as pianist Martha Argerich and cellist Yo Yo Ma. She tours globally throughout the year from the US to the Far East. Ms. Chang’s awards are too numerous to list. Musical awards include: Germany’s “Echo” Schallplattenpreis; Italy’s Internazionale Accademia Musicale Chigiana Prize; Korea’s Hong Nan Pa Memorial Award; Gramophone’s “Young Artist of the Year” award; and London’s Newcomer of the Year International Classical Musical Award. Yale Sprague Hall dedicated a chair in her name. Ms. Chang was also honored as one of the 20 Top Women in Newsweek Magazine’s “Women and Leadership, 20 Powerful Women Take Charge” issue in 2006, as a Young Global Leader at the World Economic Forum (WEF), and as the youngest person ever to receive the Hollywood Bowl’s Hall of Fame award. Ms. Chang shares her perspective on the role of the arts in personal development and her lifelong commitment to broader societal issues and ethical responsibility through an intensive conversation about her musical trajectory and numerous other engagements. Welcome to my conversation with renowned violinist Sarah Chang. Watch the video interview of this podcast at [http://ethicsincubator.net/ethics-and-the-arts-interviews/sarah-chang-interview]

Christopher Le Brun, President of the Royal Academy of Art since 2011, shares his insights as both an acclaimed artist and an art educator. He delves into the vital connection between ethics and the arts, discussing how art can navigate modern ethical dilemmas. Le Brun reflects on the responsibilities of artists in shaping societal values while staying true to their convictions. He also highlights the challenges arts organizations face in balancing representation and financial sustainability, underscoring the importance of diverse voices in fostering artistic integrity.

The world renowned Architect Frank Gehry has been called “the greatest architect we have today” by the acclaimed architect Philip Johnson. His career has spanned more than five decades designing architectural masterpieces in over six countries on three continents. Mr. Gehry’s work includes the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain, the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, California, and the Louis Vuitton Foundation’s new center in the Bois de Boulogne outside of Paris, France. Mr. Gehry founded his architecture firm in 1962. More recently, he established Gehry Partners, LLP in 2001. He personally designs every project at the firm. He has won numerous international awards, including the coveted Pritzker Prize in 1989, the RIBA (Royal Institute of British Architects) Award in 2000, and the Woodrow Wilson Award for Public Service in 2004. He was the first architect ever to receive the Harvard Arts Medal in 2016. In 2016, President Barack Obama honored Frank Gehry with the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his career achievements. Mr. Gehry has also taught at Yale University. Mr. Gehry explores the role of the architect in creating aesthetic, functional and socially present designs that respect their context, remain artistically and societally important over time, and inspire the highest ethical standards. Mr. Gehry shares his experiences in navigating some of today’s most challenging cultural, political, and social environments. He offers perspective on his own guiding moral principles and running an ethical business—and what really matters in life. He invites us to understand how his designs remain at the cutting edge of creativity, technology, and intellectual rigor. Welcome to my conversation with Mr. Frank Gehry. Watch the video interview of this podcast at [http://ethicsincubator.net/ethics-and-the-arts-interviews/frank-gehry].