Amanda Phingbodhipakkiya: Activism Through Art
Brooklyn-based multidisciplinary artist Amanda Phingbodhipakkiya explores activism through her work.
Last year she launched a campaign titled “I Still Believe in Our City” around New York City. According to her website, the series was meant to “address the rise in anti-Asian racism during the COVID-19 crisis.” In an interview with the New York Times, she spoke about turning pain into something “beautiful and powerful,” and finding a way to say that “despite everything we have faced as Asian-Americans and New Yorkers, that I still believe in New York.”
The vibrant colors and beautiful murals speak from the experiences of AAPI. Along with portraits, some of the ads come with explanations of past incidents, such as the reported case of a 26-year-old Asian-American man that was spat on.
Phingbodhipakkiya also has a background in STEM, having graduated from Columbia with a neuroscience degree. She has dedicated many of her pieces to women in science, such as the series FINDINGS. The series “reimagines science through vibrant public artwork, it also serves as a moving tribute to womankind.”
Another project concentrated around her love for STEM is ATOMIC by design, a fashion line “for girls and women who aren’t afraid to wear their smarts on their sleeves.” The designs are centered around the 118 atomic elements and “was made for the captain of science olympiad, the aspiring physician volunteering at the hospital, and the homecoming queen who binge-watches Cosmos on the weekends.”
The designs are a comfortable and fashionable way to inspire young girls, as well as create a community with scientists around the world.
Phingbodhipakkiya showcases her commitment to science, feminism, and activism through very different art forms. From 3D designs to murals to clothing her passion for each cause shines through her pieces. As said on her website, “through color, composition, and code, she invites audiences into new worlds filled with wonder and belonging.”