Campus Dining, 2012
Cambodian artist Anida Yoeu Ali has an intriguing project titled ‘Buddhist Bug Project’ that sees her exploring her Cambodian identity and heritage by dressing up as a giant orange bug.
She collaborated with Phnom Penh-based Studio Revolt on a series of site-specific performances that aims to provoke questions of displacement and belonging, and “to capture a quickly changing Cambodian urban and rural landscape”, according to the artist statement on The Philanthropic Museum site. Photos documenting her project were exhibited at Java Gallery in Phnom Penh last March.
Ali’s bright orange costume, which she dubbed the ‘Buddhist Bug’ or ‘BBug’, can expand to nearly 100 feet and can be compressed into a tight coil as well.
The costume’s color refers to the orange robes worn by Buddhist monks while the headpiece is inspired by the Muslim headgear called the hijab, and reflects Ali’s inner anguish at being torn between Buddhism and Islam.
Check out more photos of the ‘Buddhist Bug Project’ below.
Around Town 1, 2012
On The River, 2012
Reflection #1, 2012
Spiral Alley, 2012
[via Laughing Squid, images by Masahiro Sugano for Studio Revolt]