Nguyen Minh Doan

Personal statement: My works investigate the profound influence of colonization and imperialism on Vietnam, examining the historical narratives from French colonization to the impact of US imperialism in the 20th century and even up till now. Through my artwork, I reflect on how these events and stories have shaped my personal experience and the broader Vietnamese community, both in Vietnam and globally. I draw inspiration from historical moments, personal stories, oral histories, and my interactions with Vietnamese communities around the world. These encounters serve as the starting point for my conversation, exploration, and reflection on identity, memory, collective experiences, and cultural resilience. In my practice, I emphasize the use of colors and geometric shapes, drawing from the rich patterns found in Vietnamese traditional textiles and the architectural features of modernism. I also incorporate collage techniques using historical photographs, masking tape, and kozo paper. These methods allow me to visually express my perspectives, emotions, and reactions to how history has influenced me and my community. My current works include both painting and sculpture, which allows me to experiment with different mediums to communicate the layered complexity of these historical events and their ongoing impact on the Vietnamese diaspora. Right now, I’m working on a large-scale, life-size sculpture for my undergraduate thesis. The project consists of 4 detached, full-scale flying buttresses made of rigid construction foam.. Each buttress is composed of 2 profile cutouts connected by 62 decorative shapes. These interior connectors transition in color from bright to dark, while the exterior buttress panels are painted yellow ochre. The inside faces of each buttress panel are collaged with historical photos. By putting selective historical images of recognizable events in the history of Vietnam, I create visual layers to reflect and question how these histories continue to sha and appear in our present.