Anida Yoeu Ali and The Buddhist Bug Project

Artist explores identity by dressing up as a giant orange bug



Got this link passed along to me, and it's so weird and wonderful, I had to share... Artist, activist, friend to the blog (and former Angry Reader of the Week) Anida Yoeu Ali is exploring her cultural and spiritual identity by dressing up as a giant orange bug. Whaaaa? Seriously. A really big bug. And it's pretty awesome.

Artist Dresses Up As A Giant Orange Bug To Explore Her Cambodian Heritage

The Buddhist Bug Project, created with with photographer Masahiro Sugano and Phnom Penh-based Studio Revolt, is rooted in an autobiographical exploration of identity, and Anida's own spiritual turmoil between Islam and Buddhism. Set amongst everyday people in ordinary moments, the Bug "provokes obvious questions of belonging and displacement."

At the very least, you'll get a kick out of seeing this enormously strange orange creature -- the costumes coils can expand to nearly 100 feet -- just chillin' in the most mundane settings. Here's Anida's artist statement:

Angry Reader of the Week: Anida Yoeu Ali

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.

Generation Return: Art & Justice Tour with Anida Yoeu Ali

This week, spoken word artist Anida Yoeu Ali embarks on the Generation Return: Art & Justice Tour. Through performance and video works, she'll present a body of work which provocatively considers the diasporic past/present contours of the Cambodian American experience. That's 15 stops, 11 cities and 2 countries -- traveling all the way from Phnom Penh, Cambodia to make this happen. Here's the tour schedule: