the VIETNAM
corner
1st solo exhibition
at Todd Gallery, MTSU
MEDIUM
Digital, flyer
EXHIBITION DATE
Aug 26th - Sep 6th, 2019
brief
Vietnam - my hometown, my muse, my eternal inspiration. I decided to let students and staffs in MTSU know more about Vietnam culture by illustrating the country in 5 aspects: cuisine, Ao Dai - the traditional costume, human, a poem, Vietnam scenes via postcards. I did not have a chance to capture the exhibition space and feeling but people still sent supports and comments, which melt my heart.
- Are you taking picture for your big day?
- No, I’m not! - laughing
- But you are wearing the wedding dress, aren’t you?
- Right, but there is no groom. Just yesterday, I came up with the idea of having a photo album of me and my old Vespa before selling it.
- People do take photos here, as couples, while you are just alone, by yourself. Isn’t it awkward to you?
- Well, I’m always judged as weird and crazy but
that’s who I am, as long as I enjoy the true happiness
of what I am doing, my dear.
OCT 21, 2014
In the photo, she was passing by Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon, symbolizing the old beauty of Saigon, or Ho Chi Minh city. Besides religious activities, Vietnamese also come there to take photos of their unforgettable moments in life.
There is no such thing as an eternal love...
But “the moment of love” would last eternally.
- Hanoi’s Hoan Kiem lakeshore on the day of 90% humidity
JAN 6, 2018
Every early morning, on multiple lakeshores, many Vietnamese exercise as in groups. They jog, dance, talk, and laugh; then they walk by the markets, have breakfast and start a new day.
This is the old Doanh who lived on Tran Nhat Duat street. Twice a day either in the early morning or the late afternoon, he would come the the Long Bien bridge for exercise. Everytime people think of the bridge, they think of him.
Birth, aging, sickness, and death. For the next time, we would no longer see him with the beard and the hair of the cloud and the sky.
FEB 15, 2017
Long Bien bridge is a historic cantilever bridge across the Red River, connecting two districts, Hoan Kiem and Long Bien of Hanoi, Vietnam. It was first architected by the French and then constructed by 3,000 Vietnamese. It used to be one of the longest bridges in Asia.
Mom said that there are two things I should never miss. One is the last train home and the second is the one that I genuinely love and also loves me.
FEB 10, 2018
In Vietnam, there were a lot of songs and poems about soldiers’ sorrow and nostalgia when they could not turn back home during the Lunar New Year’s Eve as promised.
This tattoo symbolizes the time I spent in Saigon and Dalat. As you can see, I started at the dragon’s head and finished the tattoo, as well as my story, with its tail.
The memories remain deeply ingrained.
MAR 24, 2016
In Vietnam, tattoo used to be considered stigma as it is usually associated with mafias or bad people. Those with tattoos of dragons or angry tigers look scary to others but they each have reasons to leave marks of memories on their bodies.
It might be a broomstick in my hands, but I’m pretty smart. Whatever my children learn, I would learn the same. One should be venerated of their intelligence, not of their thick wallets.
MAY 10, 2016
In the dark nights when most people get to sleep, there are several street knights with broomsticks as swords and shining orange uniforms. With patience and persistence, they sweep dusts from streets, keeping Vietnam fresh and new.
I passed by him on such a sultry day on Hang Quat street. Such a raw-boned man as if he was addicted for years. He is taking a rest in front of the temple, loosely waving the fan. Oh, what a carefree old man!
APR 19, 2019
In the past recent years, Vietnam gets hotter and hotter. Several old men simply wear shorts and walk to their neighbors without tops. Some are impressively thin while others, with their beer bellies, are like Santa Clauses.
Our dream is to build a school. I still haven’t known what kind of school it would be but education would be the top priority there. Everyone has different definitions of a school but mine is where people gain knowledge and passionately teach others what they already know.
JAN 11, 2016
In Vietnam, there is a lot of non-profit organizations founded by high school students, which are operated mostly on fund-raising campaigns and marketing campaigns via social media to raise people’s awareness about multiple social issues. There, students are both dreamers and leaders who aim for Vietnam with higher living quality and equality.
