Statement of Work

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My work investigates the American War in Việt Nam and my experience as a Vietnamese immigrant, in particular the societal expectations of living as an Asian-American. I pull inspiration from my memories, those of my family, and history, specifically analyzing themes such as immigration, the American Dream, and the military. Utilizing fabric, photographs, and found objects in combination with laser engraving and woodworking, I create installations and wall hangings in order to excavate memories and history as a means to define and redefine personal identity. Unearthing and re-creating memories as a means of personal documentation allow me to better understand myself and provide me with a methodology to navigate through larger cultural ideas and established structures such as society or family. Within my works, I am interested in how personal memory is retained within objects and photographs compared to how collective or national memory is created through education, archives, and propaganda. My work requires that I constantly examine my position within American society, while also questioning who gets to be the keeper of history and who is left behind and forgotten.