As a Norwegian-born Vietnamese artist crafting my narrative in the US, my work is a deep dive into the complexities of "No Home Center," a term I coined to describe the unique challenges of being a second-generation Asian immigrant. Straddling two cultures, I often find myself too Asian for Westerners and too Western for Asia, a duality that has etched a sense of perpetual foreignness in the places I've called home. This exploration of belonging and identity forms the core of my artistic inquiry.
My life's journey has introduced me to a broad spectrum of individuals, from the warmly inclusive to the starkly unwelcoming. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted this dichotomy, amplifying Asian xenophobia to unprecedented levels. Witnessing the challenges faced by my mother, who managed a nail salon in a small Southern town during these times, inspired my "Monsters" project. This series began as a response to the online vitriol directed at her business and the Asian community at large, evolving to portray the broader experiences of otherness and exclusion I've encountered.
Through my art, I aim to illuminate these encounters, offering a window into the lived reality of navigating life at the intersection of multiple identities. Each piece serves as a reflection on the societal, cultural, and personal dimensions of my "No Home Center" experience, inviting viewers into a conversation about identity, belonging, and the transformative power of empathy and understanding in our interconnected world.