Artist Spotlight:
Jean-Baptiste Phou
Role:
Art Direction, Design,
Community Outreach, & Event Production
Pitched, produced, and hosted an free community gathering at Studious Coworking Space in Chinatown to spotlight the work of Jean-Baptiste (JB) Phou, a French-born Chinese-Cambodian artist and writer. The event featured a screening of his short film titled My Mother’s Tongue and a reading from his memoir Coming Out of My Skin.
SO, WHAT’S THIS ABOUT?
JB reached out to me ahead of his U.S. film and book tour, seeking recommendations for people/organizations that might be interested in his work. I was glad to help reach out to local bookstores, film festivals, community orgs, universities, and more. We did all of the above, but it also occurred to me: “Why not put something together ourselves?”
And so, with a $0 budget, my library card, and confidence instilled in me by a supportive circle of friends, we successfully organized a free community screening, book presentation, and safe space for honest conversations about identity, language, and culture.
A result of the generous spirit and genuine passion of each person involved, the event was a heartwarming success. JB’s memoir provided a glimpse into his personal journey as a queer Asian man growing up in Paris, and his film offered a moving story of the lifelong struggle to connect and communicate with his late mother. The emotional response and thoughtful audience engagement made our humble event all the more meaningful.
