Newswise — NYU’s Asian/Pacific/American Institute has named DJ and activist Thanushka Yakupitiyage, who performs under the name Ushka, as its Artist-in-Residence for the 2018-19 academic year—a role that will include a panel discussion (Sept. 25) featuring fellow artist-activists as well as the creation of new audio and musical works.
Yakupitiyage, who was born in Sri Lanka and raised in Thailand, lives and works in New York. As a DJ, she’s known for her genre-blending style across electronic club and bass music that deliberately traverses borders, creating soundscapes that reflect the immigrant experience in global migrant cities. Since 2013, Ushka has thrown a QT/POC and immigrant-centered global club party called iBomba.
Tuesday, September 25, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Artist-in-Residence Launch Event (panel)
NYU Silver Center, Hemmerdinger Hall
31 Washington Place, 1st floor
Thanushka Yakupitiyage/Ushka is joined by special guests Jace Clayton aka DJ /rupture, Sonia Guiñansaca, and Jess X. Snow for a conversation on art as activism, the role of cultural organizing, and climate and immigrant justice. Sounds by DJ Ayes Cold will follow.
The event is free and open to the public. To RSVP, please call 212.992.9653 or visit apa.nyu.edu/events. Subways: R, W (8th St.), A, C, E, B, D, F, M (W. 4th St.)
Ushka has performed across the U.S., Mexico, and Canada—including at institutions such as the Brooklyn Museum, MoMA PS1, American Museum of Natural History, Queens Museum, Rubin Museum, and Harbourfront Centre. She has worked in the immigrant rights movement for close to a decade and now does intersectional work in climate justice at 350.org.
EDITOR’S NOTE
Artists-in-Residence are invited to bring their notoriety, artistic work, and history of involvement with the Asian/Pacific American community to NYU. Artists-in-Residence use their time at A/P/A to create important new work, artistic retrospectives, forums, or conferences. Scholars, fellow artists, and community members familiar or new to the artists’ work, gain a unique opportunity to engage with the Artists-in-Residence within a university setting. For more, please visit apa.nyu.edu.
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