While performing as “The Buddhist Bug,” an orange, over-300-foot long, caterpillarlike creature, Tacoma-based artist Anida Yoeu Ali received a range of reactions all over the world, from warm delight to skeptical bewilderment. Children would sometimes tickle the bug’s feet, exposed from the long, tubular costume. Adults had questions for her, which she would only acknowledge through silent gesture.
“This humorous creature provides a lot of joy to people,” Ali said in a recent interview. “It’s really beautiful to see how approachable this entity is, especially amongst children and families. ‘The Buddhist Bug’ has a way of softening people and eliciting curiosity.”
