We Belong Here
By Amanda Phingbodhipakkiya
We Belong Here is a series of artworks by Brooklyn-based multidisciplinary artist Amanda Phingbodhipakkiya. Anchored by the iconic Koch Theater banner, the installations granted visitors a moment of peace and sent a message of inclusion. Created to confront the surge in bias and xenophobia against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, the pieces featured large scale illustrations of Asian women and elders, two groups that have been particular targets of harassment and violence. Surrounded by vibrant floral elements on a sea of periwinkle, the portraits convey courage, compassion, and defiance in the face of adversity.
I want Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders who pass Lincoln Center to know that there’s room in this city and in this country for our brilliance, our grief, our laughter, and our stories. This piece makes a bold statement that New Yorkers are standing with their Asian friends, colleagues, and neighbors. -Amanda Phingbodhipakkiya
Featured on prominent buildings across the Lincoln Center campus, this evocative installation built upon the I Still Believe in Our City art campaign Phingbodhipakkiya created as artist-in-residence with the New York City Commission on Human Rights.
