Introducing Creating Artistic Resilience: Voices of Asia – a limited run podcast brought to you by PEN America’s Artists at Risk Connection (ARC), in partnership with the Mekong Cultural Hub and FORUM-ASIA. Throughout this series, ARC’s Asia Regional Representative, Manojna Yeluri, will speak with artists and cultural rights defenders about their experiences engaging with artistic freedom in their countries. 

In this episode, we introduce the artists featured throughout the series, and discuss why we believe there is a need to create a safe space to share their stories of activism, courage and resilience.

Follow ARC on Instagram, twitter and Facebook @Atriskartists

Follow Mekong Cultural Hub on Instagram @mekonghub

Follow FORUM-ASIA on Instagram @forumasia.humanrights

Music credits: "Antibodies" by Mai Khôi and Hamed Sinno

Produced and edited by Kunal Wadhwa

Listen to Spring, a multimedia artist and activist from Myanmar, as she describes her daily life amidst the ongoing protests unfolding in the country. She draws attention to the ways in which the military coup of February 2021 poses severe security risks and impacts the future of citizens, human rights defenders, and the artistic community at large in Myanmar. 

Music credits: "Antibodies" by Mai Khôi and Hamed Sinno

Produced and edited by Kunal Wadhwa

Listen to Kacey Wong, an award-winning artist and activist, as he explains the significance of art in Hong Kong’s political protests and provides a glimpse into the far-reaching impact of the National Security Law on both free expression and artistic freedom.

Follow Kacey Wong on Instagram @kaceywong

Music credits: "Antibodies" by Mai Khôi and Hamed Sinno

Produced and edited by Kunal Wadhwa

Listen to Fahmi Reza, a Malaysian graphic artist and political activist, as he dives into his decades of engagement in the country’s political art movement. Sharing his experiences with social media censorship and run-ins with local authorities, Fahmi breaks down the connection between the country’s socioeconomic and political narratives, against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Follow them on Instagram @kuasasiswa

Music credits: "Antibodies" by Mai Khôi and Hamed Sinno

Produced and edited by Kunal Wadhwa

Listen to Leni Velasco and Andrei Venal, members of the Philippine-based art collective DAKILA and the Active Vista Centre, share their insights on censorship, red-tagging, and digital activism in the Philippines. The duo also discuss the significance of art-based human rights interventions in the sociopolitical narrative of their country and the role of art in catalyzing change in civil society.

Follow DAKILA on twitter and Instagram @dakila_ph

Music credits: "Antibodies" by Mai Khoi and Hamed Sinno 

Produced and edited by Kunal Wadhwa

Listen to Sofia Karim UK-based Bangladeshi artist and activist, as she shares her thoughts on how art helps articulate dissent in South Asia. Karim discusses the current challenges facing the creative community in the region, such as the effect of laws such as the Digital Security Act in Bangladesh, and the impact that diaspora and international solidarity can have on social justice movements in India and Bangladesh.

Follow Turbine Bagh on Instagram @turbinebagh_art

Music credits: "Antibodies" by Mai Khôi and Hamed Sinno

Produced and edited by Kunal Wadhwa