Teo Nguyen : Viet Nam Peace Project
July 16, 2022 - June 18, 2023 | Minneapolis Institute of Art | Target Wing
Teo Nguyen | American, born Vietnam 1977
The day I get rid of my heart 2017
Acrylic on vellum | 6¼ x 5 in. (image); 12 x 11 in. (sheet)
Overview
Teo Nguyen's first museum solo exhibition invites contemplation and reflection on the Vietnamese people's struggles toward peace and the politics of worthiness. Born in Vietnam, Nguyen immigrated to the United States at sixteen. Living in the United States for the last decade, Nguyen became acutely aware that many Americans think of Vietnam as a war rather than a country. Its long history, rich culture, and diverse landscape are almost entirely overlooked. Through this exhibition, Nguyen introduces America n audiences to his home country, Vietnam, beyond the war, as well as acknowledges the marks this brutal conflict left on its land and people.
Nguyen's photorealist work references historic images by photojournalists documenting the war in Vietnam and reimagines the compositions without violence . By eliminating the helicopters, the weapons, the fighting and fallen soldiers, Nguyen reveals a country of diverse, natural beauty. He tells stories of heartbreak, optimism, resistance, and reconciliation that are interwoven into Vietnamese culture and spiritualism. This act of reclamation shines a light on a Vietnam beyond the war, a place with a rich culture and picturesque topography often forgotten or invisible.
Teo Nguyen | American, born Vietnam 1977
Afternoon Lullaby, 2018
Acrylic on vellum | 60 x 90 in.
Curated by Dennis Michael Jon, Associate Curator, Global Contemporary Art , the exhibition will range in size and scope, featuring a selection of small drawings, large-scale paintings, a sculptural installation, and a monumental lotus pond mural. The lotus is Vietnam's national flower and a symbol of optimism. While the paintings and drawings feature Vietnam as a whole, Nguyen will also share a persona l story of loss, resilience, and hope through My Being, a short film inspired by his mother and her experience of loss and separation during the war. Nguyen's repositioning of persona l agency"centers the Vietnamese narrative within culturally rooted and spiritually lifting contexts.
Mia will plan engaging, audience-focused events and activities designed to highlight the show's theme and drive traffic to this important exhibition, including but not limited to an opening reception and artist talk. The museum also plans to offer free tours, educational resources, and other potential activities.
