Meryl Ochoa

I am an observer of the world around me. I am a theatremaker, a performer, a musician, and a lover of all arts. I am starting with these and figuring out the rest.

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I am devoted to developing work that tells untold truths and empowers those that are un-/under-represented.

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I have a very visual identity, and beneath that, an identity that I had tried so hard to hide as a child of the Filipinx diaspora. But I am fueled by creative honesty – creating work that speaks boldly and unapologetically. Billy Porter once said, “just living inside of my truth publicly is a political act.” I CANNOT un-politicize myself.

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I thrive in complexity. I don’t want an easy fix. I want to tell life as it is in its own complexity. To challenge the overarching injustice that makes life complex. I want to showcase diversity in the identity of a woman, especially a woman of colour. Because what I’ve realized is that simply existing and wanting to voice my opinion, to stand my ground is a political act. And I CANNOT un-politicize myself.

 

My art is my activism. Our art is our activism. Theatre, music, movement, poetry – I grasp at everything that my body allows me to do and channel the energies that flow through me so that I can be a voice, I can be a medium, I can be a way. I create from courage, joy, even frustration. Passion that springs me into action.

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I want to give people more questions to ask than answers to take. I want people to look at the world a little differently than before they encountered me and my art.

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Because what I want is to be a bridge. It’s not an obligation, but if I’m able to, and I’m willing to, why wouldn’t I?

 

Also, I just want to have fun. Save the earth. Make people smile.