Pao Arts Center Launches New Public Art Campaign “We Are More” Across the City of Boston
“Asian Americans have not been given space to express the full range of our feelings and identities...We have been cursed at, pushed, spat on, stabbed, kicked, shot, and killed. We have been blamed for a pandemic we did not create, a crisis that has caused tremendous damage to our community. We will no longer bury our pain in silence, and we will not be cowed by bullies or bigots. We are here to speak. We are here to stand. We are here to stay.”
In honor of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, Pao Arts Center brings Amanda Phingbodhipakkiya’s We Are More, a public art campaign that celebrates the resilience and diversity of the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community to Greater Boston. The campaign gives the AAPI community a powerful voice, responding to the stereotyping, harassment, and violence that has become increasingly severe amidst COVID-19. Pao Arts Center is working with the MBTA, City of Boston, Orange Barrel Media, and WGBH to have Phingbodhipakkiya’s work appear on digital billboards across Greater Boston. Through wide-spread visibility, the public art campaign empowers the AAPI community in their walk through the city or ride on the T.
Bringing these artworks to Greater Boston exemplifies Pao Arts Center’s mission to celebrate and strengthen the AAPI community through access to culturally relevant art, education, and creative programs. Director of Pao Arts Center, Cynthia Woo said, “We are excited to have Phingbodhipakkiya’s work here to uplift our community, challenge stereotypes about Asians that are at the heart of anti-Asian violence, and let the Asian community know that they belong here, too.”
"In Boston, we are working together to stop Asian hate and to celebrate the cultural and historic contributions of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in our city and across the country. Generations of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have enriched Boston’s history and are helping create our future. I am proud to showcase We Are More across our city and to celebrate our AAPI community." says City of Boston Mayor Kim Janey.
To inform this campaign and celebrate the full diversity of the AAPI community, Phingbodhipakkiya is collecting stories from Asian American and Pacific Islanders across the U.S. that highlight the incredible range of experiences, languages, traditions, and cultural practices. These stories will be featured online at MoreThan.Art in conjunction with this public campaign.
The Boston version of this project is generously funded by the Boston Foundation, Nancy Wang Adams & Scott A. Schoen, Kevin Chang, and Schweizer Foundation for Arts and Innovation.
About the Artist
Amanda Phingbodhipakkiya is a multidisciplinary artist, educator, and activist. From large-scale murals, augmented reality (AR) experiences, 3D printed sculptures, and interactive installations, Amanda makes the invisible, visible. She has explored microscopic universes, familial memories, and the power of collective action, challenging viewers to rethink the world around them and revealing the often-unseen depth, resilience, and beauty of communities of color.