Dany Pen facts for kids

Dany Pen (born September 22, 1986) is a Khmer-Canadian human rights activist, artist, and educator. She uses her art and voice to stand up for important causes, especially for women's rights and human rights.

Early Life and Education

Dany Pen was born in 1986 to a family who came to Canada from Cambodia as refugees in the 1980s. She spent her early childhood in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Her family first found safety with the Catholic Church, and later moved into community housing in St. Jamestown and then Regent Park.

When she was 12 years old, Dany showed her talent for writing. Her school nominated her for the Toronto Star Honderich Award. She won this award for her essay called "Pride in the Ghetto." This achievement also earned her a full scholarship to the University of Toronto.

Dany soon realized that art could be a powerful way to share her ideas about social issues and politics. She decided to transfer her scholarship to OCAD University, a well-known art school. There, she studied sculpture and installation art. When she graduated, she was honored with the "Faculty Chair" award, which is a special recognition for her excellent work.

Artistic Journey

After finishing her studies at OCAD, Dany Pen held her first solo art show at The Board of Directors in Toronto. This was a big step in her art career.

Her work quickly gained attention. She had the chance to show her art at XPACE Gallery as part of the CONTACT Photography Festival in Canada. She also had a solo exhibition at the Society of Arts in Bermuda.

One of her art shows in Bermuda, titled "Deja Vu 1965," was especially noticed. An art critic named Charles Zuill even compared her work to that of post-impressionist artist Paul Gauguin, which is a high compliment!

Meaningful Artworks

Dany Pen's art often explores important historical and social topics.

• Her artwork Erasures was shown in the 2012 Bermuda Biennial. This piece was inspired by the terrible history of the Cambodian genocide and the Khmer Rouge regime.
• In 2014, her artwork Grooming Goods was chosen for the International Bermuda Biennial. This piece talked about ideas of slavery and consumerism.
• Her art series called Self-Portrait and Family also explores her family's history and the impact of the Cambodian genocide. These works were featured in the 2015 Charman exhibition at the Museum of Masterworks. She had previously won the 2013 Charman Prize for having the "Best Source of Inspiration" for her art.
• Her artwork Last Breath was featured in the 2016 Bermuda Biennial.

Advocacy and Human Rights Work

Dany Pen is also a strong voice for human rights and social justice. She has worked to make a difference in her community and around the world.

In 2016, Dany was appointed as a commissioner on the Human Rights Commission in Bermuda. In this important role, she focused on women's rights, gender equality, and education.

She also spoke out for women's rights in Toronto, Canada. She asked the City of Toronto government and the City of North York to provide proper housing for young single mothers. Even though some people disagreed, the city councilors voted to approve the building permits, showing her advocacy made a difference.

Standing Up for Victims

Dany Pen played a key role in an important international human rights effort. In 2021, a media group published photos of victims from the Tuol Sleng prison in Cambodia, where many people were tragically killed during the Khmer Rouge regime. These photos were changed and colorized without permission from the victims' families or the Cambodian community.

Dany Pen, along with others, started an international petition. They demanded that the media group apologize to the Cambodian community for using the photos disrespectfully. This petition gathered over 10,000 signatures from all over the world. Major news outlets like the New York Times and BBC News reported on it. The Kingdom of Cambodia also supported the petition with its own public statement. Eventually, Dany Pen and the media group met privately, and the media group issued both a public and private apology.

Awards and Recognition

Dany Pen has received several awards for her important work:

• In 2006, the City of Toronto government and former Mayor David Miller recognized her for her charity work and her efforts to support women's rights.
• In 2016, OCAD University in Canada gave her the "World Builder" award. This is the highest honor for alumni who have made significant humanitarian contributions to their community and culture, and who actively support global causes.
• In 2017, she was nominated as "Woman of the Year" in Bermuda at the Women's Empowerment Summit. She was recognized for her ongoing work in advocating for women's rights.