Get a Life

by Vivienne Westwood

  I always thought that big fish eat little fish, so we start with bacteria and plankton and krill. Paul says, ‘No, it’s a cycle. It’s the whales’ shit and not only that, these huge creatures bring up the iron and nitrogen from the bottom of the sea. The more predators in the sea, the more fish you get. Every creature on this earth gives and takes – this is biodiversity – except us. We only take. At the moment the world’s biodiversity can only deal with 50 per cent of our poison and waste.’

  He gave me his short manual on how to save the world. Each page was a set of bullet points to identify a particular problem and suggestions of how to solve it: nothing vague, just a practical programme. It is the best tool every activist has been waiting for. An example from one page: it gave me the idea for BE SPECIFIC!

  A page from Paul Watson’s booklet, Ocean: Solutions to Climate Change.

  He is expecting a life-size replica of the blue whale down on the quay of the Seine for the COP21 (climate change conference) in Paris, at the beginning of December.

  I will join Paul there and hopefully take part in the COP21 mobilisation campaign.

  SAT 17 OCT ONE HUNDRED MILLION POUNDS

  I agreed to give a talk to open the Frieze Art Fair. Why, when I deny any status other than ‘rubbish’ to so-called modern art? Benedikt, PA to Andreas and me, came to me three days in a row asking please give me an answer. Yet he had only just told me that my friend Gregor was asking me to do it. Gregor doesn’t mind my opinion because he thinks what I say is interesting and he needed an answer now because he needed to go to press. I agreed because Benedikt told me that Gregor had first asked a month ago and he had ‘lost’ the email – so I couldn’t let Gregor down.

  Also I had a painting (which is really a collage) I wanted to sell to raise money for the rainforest. Cool Earth, the charity which has a simple plan to save the rainforest by working with indigenous tribes, have already saved 541,035 acres. They are on target and need another £100 million in order to save all three great equatorial forests.

  At the last election the polling station was in the local school and I saw the collage on the wall. It was done by a class of six-year-olds – about the environment. I thought I’d rather have that on my wall than something by Andy Warhol or Jeff Koons. I’ll try to sell it, it will be a challenge – a challenge to ‘What is art?’ So I did my talk: Great art is timeless; it is always original, as alive today as when it was first done; there is no progress in art (because it is perfect), though there can be decadence. Art gives culture. Today we have consumption instead of culture – for the mass of people. If we had culture we would have different values, the values of our human genius, and we would not have climate change.

  Though people were deeply interested I started to feel mad: here I was trying to save the rainforest with a kids’ collage. I said: ‘I feel crazy. There is no relation between the littleness of my means and the enormity of the task. I am just going to get down and lie on the floor until somebody comes to take me away.’ Then when they were clapping I suddenly sat up with an inspiration, ‘I know the value of the collage! One hundred million pounds. Buy the painting and you save the rainforest. I demand one hundred million pounds!’

  MON 26 OCT FASHION CHARACTER

  I met a party of Chinese people in our showroom in Conduit Street, visiting England on a shopping tour. They are rich and because of that I imagine influential and they are interested in the environment. I gave them my leaflet with the map ‘Rotten Financial System’ and they invited me to come to Shanghai to receive an award at a grand event – an auction and dinner with the rest of their group, ‘Fashion Character’. I did not do this, but of course the hope is that they might help with fundraising for Cool Earth and use their influence towards building the Green Economy, which is a matter of life and death. I will keep in touch with them. However, I’ve had this money kind of thing before. Also: ‘Talk to this blogger who has millions of fans.’ They usually want something from you but they don’t come across to help you.

  TUES 27 OCT BJÖRK

  Björk is in London and she came to see us. She brought a gift – two boxes containing LPs with all her music. She is doing everything she can to fight the present government of Iceland to stop wrecking the country. Love her.

  NOVEMBER 2015

  FRI 6 NOV ENGLISH CHAMPAGNE

  Vineyard visit. English champagne (we have to call it English sparkling wine). Nyetimber is the name of the champagne and also the residence. I didn’t know we were going. I was told yesterday that we had accepted. If I had been told about the invitation earlier I would have said no – I don’t have time. But Lorna Tucker, the film-maker, came with us and I had been too busy whenever she had wanted to show me her new baby. So now on the train I had the chance to meet baby Lola Vivienne and to talk to her about Leonard Peltier. I also relaxed and talked with colleagues – about work.

  Nyetimber is on the South Downs, such a gorgeous part of the world, and the house is unbelievably beautiful with a large pond landscaped with plants, gardens on the surrounding bank, woods and barns. The undulating fields of vines, a mile or two away from the sea, were separated from the woods by a curving path. The warm wind carried a little rain and you walked into it with the sound of the autumn leaves whipped in the branches above you. This is good soil for vines, something to do also with natural drainage.

  We were here for wine tasting and lunch. Nyetimber sponsor the wine at some of our events. Now was the chance to really appreciate it. Delicate and subtle sensations. I will never drink again without stopping to savour the pleasure. This day I had lived in the present.

  THURS 12 NOV ZEITZ FOUNDATION

  Went with Teddy to Shad Thames, for an evening gathering with the Zeitz Foundation. When I went to Kenya I stayed at the Segera ranch and wildlife park, one of Jochen Zeitz’s enterprises for his Long Run charity. The idea is that each of their projects regenerate the wild territory until it is sustainable – funded by luxury tourism. Andreas and I are patrons and in particular of Uaso Nyiro Primary School. Tribal people there now live more sustainably (solar not firewood) and healthily (gardens from rainwater collection). I met retired businessman Alan and his wife who have built the new school for Uaso Nyiro, which won a prize as ‘Earth’s Greenest School’. Jochen asked me to open his contemporary art museum in South Africa but I can’t, it’s too near to the collection in February.

  MON 16 NOV TAKING A TANK TO THE CAMERONS

  Tank to Cameron’s house near Witney, organised by Joe and his ‘Talk Fracking’ team. Cameron has exempted his house from fracking permits but allowed them in the surrounding land. Aim: to poison the garden of the poisoner. The Nanas were waiting for us and had brought their grandchildren. They are so important – a focus group against fracking. Their support must have been so useful to the Preston council in refusing planning permission for fracking. And I think they have been crucial in focusing public opinion against fracking – which is now at 87 per cent. The photos of the tank went everywhere. It was even featured in China.

  We got front-page coverage on the papers for this anti-fracking protest.

  I went back home in the car with Ben and Tomoka and dog Jackie. We stopped in Witney – so attractive. Being vegetarian, you can’t find decent food when you travel, only rock-bottom prepared food produced to make the most profit. There was only cheese and gooey white bread, so we had fish and chips. I eat fish sometimes and I do like sushi, when there is nothing else.

  THURS 19 – SAT 21 NOV PHOTO SHOOT IN VENICE

  To Venice shooting our campaign, Salva Venezia. We will meet Juergen there. We were early in the airport at Gatwick having a coffee when the three models turned up one by one. They were all adorable, slim and young. I asked one of them, Naleye, about his name. His father is African-Asian and his mother Dutch. He told me that when he left New York the news on CNN was full of the grief from the Paris suicide bombings but never mentioned, obviously, that the men who became ISIS were trained by the US, UK and France. He
is so friendly. Later, when we were airborne, he tore this page out of his book and gave it to me.

  What’s your name? I asked the girl with waist-length thick hair. Ee-A! (Ia) she boomed. Up for anything. Very sweet with this strong voice – made direct observations and questions. Amelia, caring and committed, comes from Dominican Republic. She liked coming to Europe. In her country it is dangerous to go out at night, and it is racist – people with dark skin are ostracised, with no means of income, and Haitians who were born there are now stateless and have nowhere to go.

  Andreas and I also model in the campaigns. Juergen took this shot of me on the Grand Canal. The jacket is covered in buttons.

  Nadia joined us with her big suitcase of products for hair and make-up. The models are so young and lovely that make-up doesn’t enhance. We did almost nothing. Naleye had a sty but it didn’t matter. When we do a show we paint a theme on the face – or a device. My favourite is still the one when Andreas said, ‘Make them look like horses.’

  None of the models had been to Venice before. They were excited in the taxi boat. We had lunch. Juergen took us out to a little shop with fish tanks. The tiny fish tickle you by eating the dead skin and you come out with your legs smooth.

  That evening our team, including, importantly, Sabina (super stylist), put together the outfits for the shoot and tried them on the models, and Colby, our fourth model, arrived. He is a porn star. When Andreas had shown me his photo and asked my opinion I said, immediately, I know why he’s a porn star: because he looks like the sweetest nicest person. And that’s how it turned out. He is observant and knows more about Venice than me. He knows what we’re up against regarding the environment.

  After the shoot, someone threw away our big cardboard box containing all the hats packed in tissue paper. They thought it was rubbish. The models are Amelle and Ia.

  Next day the plan was to hire a taxi boat and a barge and sail around. Juergen wasn’t liking these tourist photos so luckily we took advantage of the invitation of Jane da Mosto to film in her palazzo. Contessa Jane da Mosto is very important. She’s a scientist and has been campaigning to save Venice. In 1966 there was a terrible flood and since then people have been analysing the problem and proposing solutions. The lagoon is one of the most wonderful wetlands in the world: exquisite symbiosis between the animals and plants that stabilise the sediment from the freshwater rivers, and Venice itself which has grown with the lagoon. If Venice were not there the wetlands would have become either land or a bay – the sea having swept away the sediment. The lagoon protects Venice from storms and inundations by the sea. The biggest problem now seems to be the cruise ships which tear up the lagoon. Total false economy to allow them. Jane says that Venice is the canary in the mine. If we can’t save Venice, how do we save the world?

  Here is the press release I wrote:

  SALVA VENEZIA

  Today we present our Gold Label show called ‘Salva Venezia’ and it’s about saving Venice. The problem there is one of repair but also of climate change. In 12th Century Venice great houses on stilts lined the canals. They were trading posts and they each belonged to rich families and on the ground floor of these houses were shops. All the luxury goods from the East came there and merchants and rich people travelled there to shop. The prosperity of these families was out of this world and they built grand palaces painted and gilded on the outside as well as in.

  Bellini, Giorgione, Titian – it was the period of the greatest flourishing of art that the West has ever known. Venice was an emporium of culture. Carnival – everyone in disguise in St. Mark’s Square or disappearing round corners into those narrow streets. The mask hides a time of altered states where the poor become rich and vice versa or the ugly become attractive. It dates from a primitive time when people indulged in excess so that their sins could be forgiven before the new spring.

  Come on our march on November 29th in London. The People’s March for Climate, Justice and Jobs. Bring your children, it will be massive. The more people the better the chance to change the world. Come! To mirror the world: be beautiful as the world – you must engage with the world.

  TUES 22 NOV MORE IMPORTANT THINGS

  Party at the Shard. We did a Christmas Tree, decorated to promote awareness of Cool Earth. Why does a party have boom-boom music in an area where there is no dance floor. Can’t talk. I like to talk. I prefer it to constant photos. Irvine Sellar was presented to me, who produced the Shard and put up the money. He’s doing another building, a bit taller now. We had a photo taken. He was so full of his own importance. I said, ‘Are you coming to the march against climate change on Sunday?’ He sneered, ‘I’ve got more important things to do.’ I said, ‘Like what? – Die?’

  SUN 29 NOV CLIMATE MARCH

  The march. Blustery day. 70,000 people. Hyde Park Corner to Houses of Parliament. Speeches before – Caroline Lucas, me, Jeremy Corbyn. (I got Caroline’s speech later: superb.) So much organisation goes into a march. Avaaz and Friends of the Earth were the main NGOs. Cynthia worked with them for months and thinks they are splendid.

  Then off we went. A lot of our young gang wore crowns which stand for ‘We are the People, we rule the world’. It’s great talking to people as you go along, especially the young ones and meeting your friends. At the end were more speeches. Everything was on such a high level. Listening to rap poet Mic Righteous and later Kate Tempest – Andreas said she was ‘Shakespeare – The Best!’ I remember something my friend Gary once said: ‘The world suffers from the isolation of intellectuals.’ I suddenly understood; everybody who came on this march is an intellectual.

  On the march with Jeremy Corbyn and Labour’s Shadow Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, Lisa Nandy.

  DECEMBER 2015

  END OF DEC PARIS CLIMATE CHANGE CONFERENCE

  I have not done diary entries for December. Apart from work and Christmas, the overwhelming fact was the Climate Change Conference in Paris – COP21. I attended the Alternative COP21 and there was a lot happening – thousands of NGOs. Half the people of Europe understand what is going on. The plan of the official COP21 is a mirror of death. The scientists and NGOs will now fight for our lives against the governments of the rich countries.

  I shall be selective of the other things. I need more time – for my fashion design – and to clear the way for an eventual block of time to see if I can manage to put together the idea I have for a play. I mentioned already that I think you could update Faust. Mephistopheles would be the Press and the aim would be to show how easy it is in the ‘democratic’ system we have today for the mainstream media to lie to the public by giving out bits of information so as to hide the complete picture.

  END OF DEC LIPPI MURALS IN PRATO

  Just before Christmas we were in Prato working with our producers in Studio Cataldi. We went with Rosita to the old town (a little Sunday morning holiday) and into an antique shop where every single thing was desirable – something you would really want to have. Climbed the steps up into the castle and overlooked a large grassed courtyard where horses and riders were practising for an event in the afternoon – the boy sitting upright, the arched neck of the horse as he stepped to the rhythm.

  Lippi’s fresco in Prato cathedral of Herod’s Banquet.

  Then to the cathedral to look at the Lippi frescoes. I had been allowed to see the murals before, but only partially, standing on scaffolding whilst they were being restored. These amazing works – you wouldn’t find them unless you knew they were there. We climbed a few steps then along behind the balustrade into the chancel and a lady happened to be there and switched on a light. On one side is the life of St. Stephen. We see him in three stages of his life – he was stoned to death – amongst crowds. On the other side is Salome, dancing at the banquet where she asks for the head of John the Baptist, and she is in the same picture again, down on one knee, looking out at us whilst presenting John’s head to her mother on a big plate. We are present at the whole thing and it is held together b
y every person’s relation to each other and what is happening.

  Coming home, Andreas wrote on the back of his air ticket: ‘Art can touch you to such an extent that you want to change your life.’ He is alluding to Rainer Maria Rilke from his poem regarding the remains of a broken statue – the Torso of Apollo – ‘du mußst dein Leben ändern.’

  END OF DEC CHRISTMAS

  Andreas went back to Tyrol for Christmas. He had to help his father move from the family house to a smaller home. On Christmas Eve I drove to Cornwall with Ben and Tomoka and our friend Krishna to stay with Joe and his girl, Faye. Three things:

  First, Game of Thrones. I watched some episodes and thought it was really good – it’s about right and wrong and that’s what interests us all – it rings true.

  Second, Joe, Tomoka and I were standing on the shingled slope of a narrow bay watching the waves of the incoming tide which was now reaching the extent of its flow. It was cold and wild at the end of a grey afternoon. The bay enclosed our vision of the waves as they smashed upon the rocks at the cliff side – our horizon was this wall of waves at eye level, because we were on a slope. Body and soul controlled by the forever-coming waves; fulfilled as our breath comes in with the sea. We were at one with the world, gladdened and renewed. But it is not quite the same experience as the experience in front of Filippo Lippi because we do stay, we don’t leave the world. That is my experience.