Makoto Fujimura & Haejin Shim: Beauty, Art & Justice

Written By Guest User
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We have come full circle and reached the end of season 3 - time really flies! I started this season expressing my desire to talk about social justice, racism and discrimination. I gave the example of the Japanese art of Kintsugi - the broken vessel that is mended to make new. And who better to talk about these Kintsugi ideals than the person who introduced me to this concept, return guest, artist Makoto Fujimura. This time he joins me with his incredible wife, lawyer and justice advocate Haejin Shim.

This episode was so powerful and whilst it was recorded sometime in June, the themes remain ever-relevant. We talk about the ways in which beauty, art and justice intersect. Can beauty be found in justice, can art be used as an instrument for justice? What does justice really mean? We talk about faith and beauty. Beauty not as perfection, it’s not cosmetic - but beauty as a journey - a journey into the new. And we can’t talk about beauty without talking about sacrifice and suffering - suffering that leads to what Mako calls ‘generative love’. 

I have so much to say about this episode, so much that it’s better that I just say less and you listen and draw your own conclusions.

Guest: Makoto Fujimura & Haejin Shim

Title: ‘Beauty, Art & Justice’ 

Artists on playlist: Susie Ibarra, Walking on Water

To Learn more about Airbnb's work with Afghan Refugees: https://www.airbnb.org/refugees

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Alexander Liebermann: What is music?