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One summer at my grandparent's house, I came across old family photos and my late grandfather's journals.
Grandfather would translate words from English to Vietnamese in his journals.
When I came to the US, I too learned English this way.
Writing a word 100 times.
Translating it 100 times.
NHÌN LẠI
ÔNG LÀ TÚI KỶ NIỆM CỦA EM
This collection pays homage to my grandfather.
Grandfather nurtured me in this new life of mine.
I have fond memories of him wearing his suits wherever he went. He would never be seen outside the house wearing anything less than a pair of trousers, a button down shirt, tie, suit jacket - and a knitted vest when it was winter.
Patterns and colors are inspired by photo projections onto fabrics and the body. Layering on hand-dyed fabrics on top of denim allowed images of my grandfather and I to be present together once again - as a child and as an adult.
Memories are dream-like.
How do we remember?
I'm a ghost trying to relive moments with my parents
And grandparents through mementos.
A transparent visit.
Family photos are my time capsule.
I'm picking up pieces "from" my family "to" me.
I'm drawn to family photos since they fill the missing oral narratives and experiences for the people who've raised me.
A photo captures a moment making it lasts forever.
Yet that moment is elusive.
I appreciate the beauty of this paradox.
I explored classic constructed pieces inspired by my grandfather's dressing system and combined that with my own experimental fabric treatments. By deconstructing and understanding the foundation of tailored garments, I developed my own drapes and constructions through the creative process. I combined these broken tailored pieces with the shibori dyeing technique, reflecting my family's collective consciousness and history.
