Tetsuro Shigematsu

We are honoured to be able to present playwright, performer, filmmaker, comedian, and CBC radio host, Tetsuro Shigematsu who will share his story of creativity through the lens of this month's global theme 'acceptance'.

A former writer for This Hour Has 22 Minutes, Tetsuro’s theatrical solo-work Empire of the Son was named the best show of 2015 by the Vancouver Sun, and was described by theatre critic Colin Thomas describes it as, “one of the best shows ever to come out of Vancouver. Ever.” His other solo-work, 1 Hour Photo was named as a finalist for the 2019Governor General’s Award for Drama, and was the co-winner of the Holden Street Theatres’ Edinburgh Fringe Award, 2021. The Vancouver’s Georgia Straight declared him to be, “one of the city’s best artists.” In 2018, he earned his PhD in Arts-Based Research from the University of British Columbia, and now serves as Creative Director of the Research-based Theatre Lab.

As usual, we asked Tetsuro a handful of probing questions to give us a deeper glimpse into her life and relationship with creativity:

How do you define creativity and apply it in your life and career?

What iridescent feathers are to peacocks, creativity is to humans, a reliable indicator of genetic fitness. It’s a costly signal to fake. In other words, I think talent is sexy. For me, something that I’ve begun to realize is that autobiographical solo theatre works can function as metaphysical pageant shows. Creativity is the ability to create work that is smarter than yourself. There’s two ways of doing this. Plumb the depths of your subconscious and work intuitively. Secondly, work with people who are smarter and more talented than you, and listen closely to what they have to say. The best work is often the result of collaboration. Thesis, antithesis, synthesis.

Where do you find your best creative inspiration or energy?

In the bathroom, either while getting clean or getting dirty.

What’s one piece of creative advice or a tip you wish you’d known as a young person?

If I had a chance to meet my younger self, I wouldn’t say anything, because it’s been a pretty meaningful journey so far. I’d like to listen though. I’d ask, “So? What do you think? Are you excited to become me? Or are you disappointed?”

Who (living or dead) would you most enjoy hearing speak at CreativeMornings?

I once read that Shakira and Gabriel Garcia Marquez used to hang out while he was still alive. Even if they spoke of banal minutiae of everyday life, I’m sure it would have been fascinating.

What did you learn from your most memorable creative failure?

When my marriage of 25 years came to an abrupt end, I realized that the health of my relationships is directly correlated to my willingness to have uncomfortable conversations.

What’s your one guilty creative indulgence?

Scrolling endlessly through the FaceBook group Midjourney, a forum for AI-generated art work.

What fact about you would surprise people?

I was a child preacher.
Also, I fly a great deal. Whenever I experience severe turbulence on a flight, I never get nervous because I often think, “I’ve lived a good life. Things have never been better. So maybe it’s not a bad time to die.”

How does your life and career compare to what you envisioned for your future when you were a sixth grader?

When I was in grade school, I saw myself wearing a top hat and tails, dancing like Fred Astaire. Picture an Asian boy with a bowl cut doing that. You would never know it to look at me today, but what I do is not far off.

How would you describe what you do in a single sentence to a stranger?

I travel the world telling stories about my life.

If you could open a door and go anywhere, where would that be?

I believe humankind will be around far longer than most people think. I would like to visit the final epoch of human existence, say the final 10 years.

What keeps you awake at night?

Nothing keeps me awake at night. I am preternaturally worry-free. I asked my therapist friend if my condition could be pathologized. She said no. No state of mind that enables equanimity and independence could be considered a condition.

What myths about creativity would you like to set straight?

To be a “real” artist, you need to be doing it full time. You can’t have a day job. My favourite example is the poet Wallace Stevens who sold insurance.

If you could do anything now, what would you do?

Become an astronaut.

Where is your favourite place to escape?

Going fast on my e-bike.

What was the best advice you were ever given?

“I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” - Maya Angelou

What books made a difference in your life and why?

Something Like an Autobiography by Akira Kurosawa. He recommends to study all the art forms that make up a medium, rather than just the medium itself.

What practises, rituals, or habits contribute to your creative work?

I have a walking treadmill beneath my standing desk. Nietzsche said there are no great thoughts that happen outside of walks. On a good day, I’ll walk over half a marathon.

If you had fifteen extra minutes each day, what would you do with them?

Have sex, meditate, and workout all at once, but I’m not sure if that form of yoga exists?

What object would you put in a time capsule that best represents who you are today?

My standing desk with my walking treadmill, multiple monitors, and multiple keyboards, and multiple computers is such an ugly monstrosity, it’s beautiful.

What is the one movie or book every creative must see/read?

Impro by Keith Jonstone.