My senior exhibition evolves around the common theme “Modern Vietnam”. Through a series of portrait and figure paintings, I construct a critical view of social, political and cultural issues in the country, melding a fluid concept of modern culture ranging from rural to urban Vietnam. Throughout my project, I draw historical references to several sources including war iconography, propaganda, and Vietnamese cultural mythography. Additionally, I am drawn to portraits of the native people, either in stoic poses or amidst their daily routines, as these images are true to my own life experiences. One of the recurring elements in my work is the traditional masks used in native festivals, which I intend to use as a symbolism of traditional Vietnamese culture. Specifically, the bright and decorative quality of the masks in “A Vietnamese festival – Homage to Magritte” contrasts with the realistic quality of figures and compositions in the rest of the paintings, which were completed using monochromatic colors. Through the juxtaposition of iconographies and daily narratives, I hope to create and represent a cultural snapshot of modern Vietnam.

Modern Vietnam through the lens of Visual Art