What's up, my people? It's about time we meet the Angry Reader of the Week, spotlighting you, the very special readers of this website. Over the years, I've been able to connect with a lot of cool folks, and this is a way of showing some appreciation and attention to the people who help make this blog what it is. This week's Angry Reader is Anida Yoeu Ali.
Who are you?
Anida Yoeu Ali. You have my permission to google me.
What are you?
I am 1/4 Cham, Khmer, Thai, and Malaysian. Full on fire sign. Sagittarius, Born the Year of the Ox. Mother of two amazing girls. 1/2 of Studio Revolt.
Where are you?
Currently I am at stop#3 Oberlin College of an 11-city tour. Only 4 days ago I flew nearly 10,000 miles to embark on this crazy tour of mine. It's flat here and dismal and cold. Now I’m thinking, "what the hell did I leave 90 degree weather for?"
Where are you from?
Never a simple answer for this. I was born in Battambang, Cambodia, raised in Chicago for nearly 30 years and now live and work in Phnom Penh Cambodia where my father once called his home.
What do you do?
I am both an artist and an activist and sometimes the two intersect into an enigmatic superhero figure I like to call the "global agitator." I make art and I make trouble. I challenge people and institutions all the time. I make beautiful things and I reveal really ugly truths. I don't hold back my anger - ever - this gets me into all sorts of trouble with all sorts of folks in nearly every country I've been in. Currently I am on an 11-city tour of the US/Canada as part of my Generation Return: Art and Justice Tour." It's my chance to present old and new works but in particular talk about contemporary justice and its residual effects on the Cambodian American experience. My tour ends in New York City coinciding with "Season of Cambodia" – the first ever multi-arts festival bringing over 125 artists from Cambodia to NYC. I am honored to be part of this historical moment where Cambodia is represented on the world stage through its arts and culture and not temples and trauma.
What are you all about?
Justice. Art. Beauty. Truth. Colors. Great shoes, a sense of style especially right when I'm about to kick someone's racist, elitist, xenophobic, patriarchal, homophobic... rude ass!
What makes you angry?
Oh where should I begin and in which country? Currently I am angry about our U.S. Criminal Justice and Immigration system. I think deportations are inhumane. I can't stand the ants in Cambodia and the "wet" bathrooms. Prime Minister (ahhem Dictator) Hun Sen is a neighbor of ours and I don't think he likes it when we knock on his door to borrow some sugar. Why are people still using Styrofoam cups? And please outlaw plastic bags because they are really fucking up the "developing" countries! Ignorant comments on YouTube really annoy me. People who think they're too "good" for Facebook or above commenting on FB also annoy me. Many Cambodian Americans are actually more critical and unsympathetic to the plight of deportees and that really pisses me off. What happened to our art programs in the public schools? I can't believe we are in a state of war and that there are still millions of refugees without homes. Since Angelina Jolie is really into Cambodia, I would like her to be my art patron. I won't let her adopt my children but she can adopt me.