An Nguyen, “Fortune” Solo Exhibition – Vernissage

As immigrants entering a foreign land, we all share the common desire to make our new country a place we can freely call home. We make efforts, from bringing our culinary traditions, to running enterprises that shape a nation’s economic future. As newcomers we do so with innovation, grit and determination. Our journeys to freedom are often fought with challenges, sacrifice, and difficult decisions.

April 30th, 2025 marks the 50th anniversary since the fall of Saigon. The Canadian government recognizes this day as a national day to commemorate the large exodus of Vietnamese refugees and their acceptance into Canada. Through art, I bear witness to this historical event by creating a series of paintings,  which illustrates the story of my refugee beginnings and celebrates how far I’ve come. My vivid paintings chronicle the perilous journey of leaving Vietnam to stories of life as an Canadian immigrant.

During the Vietnam war, my parents lived through the trauma of hearing constant gunshots while watching the skies engulfed in flames. They heard cries of those lost at sea and witnessed children die in the arms of their parents. They saw the desperate who tossed their offspring onto precarious vessels in  the hopes that their child might find potential refuge. These memories are etched in their hearts and forever changed their view on life and parenting.

My brother and I grew up in a home grounded in traditional values situated within a typical Canadian milieu. Growing up, most of what we learned about the Vietnam War was through our parents. My parents taught us how to cook old family recipes so that we remember where we came from, while watching Wheel of Fortune. They planted flowers to beautify our home, while cultivating basil and chili plants for aromatic dishes. As stoic survivors of war, they cried when I graduated from university. They decorated the house in “lucky” red to affirm their happiness during my tea ceremony, and shared laughter and joy when I danced at my wedding. They are changemakers who bravely risked everything so that we could live in safety to pursue our hopes and dreams. As a child of these war heroes, I honour their valour and courage in the face of such seemingly insurmountable adversity.

This exhibition showcases, how my road to a bright future, was  founded on decades of personal sacrifices and hardship. For many Vietnamese Boat People, crossing the tumultuous South China Sea was a huge risk. Like many immigrant families our origins were humble, but overtime we have made substantial contributions to our communities, while preserving our heritage and customs. It is my hope that this exposition celebrates the half-century of achievements of the Vietnamese diaspora and the triumphs we have made in the face of adversity. Let this show be a beacon of light that shines luck on those who today make similar perilous journeys. May their “hopes adrift” in the water, to light a path towards safety and a better future.

An Nguyen