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Bio
Anh Dao is a design student based in Brooklyn, New York. She currently attends The New School and is pursuing majors in Product Design (BFA, Parsons School of Design) and Interdisciplinary Science (BA, Eugene Lang College of Liberal Arts) with a minor in Literature. Her work focuses on Vietnamese folklore, spiritualism, oral history, and tradition through a diasporic lense. Through her art and journaling she seeks to navigate, define, and celebrate her Vietnamese American identity, as well as explore the fragmented and complicated narratives of her refugee family. She is a bacteria nerd as well! Many of her illustrations seek to bring an understanding and appreciation of bacteria to new audiences. Her laboratory work involves researching antibiotic resistance in NYC soil, as well as how to incorporate microbes into sustainable designs.
Summary
Throughout my course work I have demonstrated these themes, especially in my Studio/Sem 2 Class, Time Class, and Space/Materiality Class. In my Time class I learned how to use Adobe software to edit videos, create audio samplings, and edit images. In my Space/Materiality class I learned the technical skills needed to produce 3D work in wood and plaster. My Studio/Sem 2 classes taught me how to craft a well rounded research topic and then translate this research to create more interesting and informed work. I have combined all the skills learned in these classes to create pieces that are meaningful to me and fulfill a goal I set of learning/exploring a new topic with every piece I make. My academic courses allowed me to conduct this research and utilize my new knowledge to create a piece based on the topic. What made some projects/papers more exciting is if I was fully invested in the topic. This always made my work more developed and interesting since I enjoyed being able to indulge in my interests, since I can’t always do that in classes. Further research on these projects could have elevated them even further. For example, even though I was fully invested in the last project for Int. Studio/Sem 2, my research paper could have had stronger points if I researched more. My Studio project could have been pushed further if I had experimented more.
Highlights
#1 Doi Moi board game
This board game I made for sustainable systems was one of my favorite projects. I first wrote a research paper that explores how Vietnam’s post war implementation of đổi mới policy created rapid industrialization within the country, but has resulted in the destruction of environment in rural farming communities in order to keep up high export demands.The soil and water in farming communities is especially polluted due to heavy unregulated use of pesticides and fertilizers. This has caused problems such as widespread cancer rates and destruction of natural resources, with the only solution being a government backed halt on intense crop production and chemical use. However, economic interest is preventing action from being taken.
I then made a board game based on this research paper, so that players could learn about the issue in a fun way. I constructed the board and pieces out of wood by had, and decorated it with calligraphy paper. I made the board into its own box, to resemble traditional Asian game board sets that turn boards into boxes. I think what made this project interesting is that I got to explore my major of product design, which I did not get to do a lot of this year. I made a board game product that had appropriate aesthetics for my research topic.
#2 Altar
This project was based on the research paper I wrote for Seminar 2. Through my altar I sought to re-contextualize different aesthetics and materials used in ancestor worship throughout several periods in Vietnamese history. Though the altar was very personal to me, I wish that I had experimented more. However, it is one of my favorite projects from this year because of how extensive my research was, and that it was my first instillation. It made me want to continue making instillations for the future.
Conclusion
For the future, I want to become more experimental and less literal with my approach to projects. I want to continue exploring the topics that are important to me, while also generating new topics based on questions that my previous projects generated. For example, when people were interested in my grandmother’s black teeth in my altar project, it inspired me to pursue another project regarding my grandmother.
Works Cited
“Ancestor Worship, a Fine Tradition of Vietnam for Generations.” Vietnamplus.vn. February 07, 2016. Accessed April 11, 2019. https://en.vietnamplus.vn/ancestor-worship-a-fine-tradition-of-vietnam-for-generations/88741.vnp.
This article discusses the history and modern practice of ancestor worship at an article. It describes how the practice is performed, and the reasoning behind each object that is placed upon the altar. This article is interesting because even though it is not written in first person, the fact that it is published on a Vietnamese news site and the in depth details that are given make it feel more personal, and from Vietnamese perspective.
Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown Episode 4 Hanoi. Directed by Tom Vitale. Performed by Anthony Bourdain. September 25, 2016. Accessed April 11, 2019.
In this episode Anthony explores the culture, food, and history of Hanoi, Vietnam. In one scene he interviews a Vietnamese woman named Thao, in which she generally discusses the history of Vietnam, and defines the current state of the country. She explains the significance of the country’s history of war, and how the future of the country will be interesting, since the newer generations will be the first to be separated from war.
Free, UrTravelAdvisor Vietnam Travel Guide. YouTube. October 17, 2016. Accessed April 11, 2019. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=asA8cch2lyo.
In this video the formal practice of ancestor veneration at an alter is described. The video was made for an audience foreign to Vietnamese culture and prospective tourist, but is explained by a Vietnamese woman. This is an interesting way of learning about ancestor worship, as it is from a distanced, more observational point of view.
Lee, Jonathan Huoi Xung. “Ancestral Veneration in Vietnamese Spiritualities.” Hmongstudies.com. 2003. Accessed April 11, 2019. http://hmongstudies.com/Lee2003.pdf.
This academic paper describes the history of religion in Vietnam in relation to ancestor worship. It explains the entire practice and ideology involved in ancestor worship, and how it manifests itself in different religions and ways of life.
Ngo, Vinh Long. Before the Revolution: The Vietnamese Peasants under the French. New York: Columbia University Press, 1991.
This book gives an overview of French colonization from the perspective of Vietnamese peasants. What is specifically useful in this book for my paper is that it discusses how ancestor worship played a role in the distribution of land just prior to French colonization. Certain plots of land were preserved specifically for ancestor veneration, and could not be owned by anyone.
Nguyen, Daniel Xuan-Vu. “IDOLATRY AND THE VIETNAMESE ANCESTOR CULT.” Etd.ohiolink.edu. May 2016. Accessed April 11, 2019. https://etd.ohiolink.edu/!etd.send_file?accession=trin1455712662&disposition=inline.
This academic paper discusses ancestor worship within the Vietnamese Catholic Church, and how it is able to survive despite the fact that it contradicts Catholic values. He gives a cultural analysis of ancestor worship as well, and discusses how its history has shaped what it is today.
Tam, Ruth. “Culture Clash: Asian Americans Balance Christianity and Culture in Rituals Honoring Their Ancestors.” The Washington Post. April 06, 2018. Accessed April 11, 2019. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-nation/wp/2018/04/06/culture-clash-asian-americans-balance-christianity-and-culture-in-rituals-honoring-their-ancestors/?utm_term=.d2fd9014291c.
This article is written from the perspective of a Chinese American Christian woman. She describes her struggle with honoring her ancestors when it is in direct contradiction to her religion. What is specifically useful in this article is when the author discusses her Vietnamese Catholic friend, and how she is able to maintain ancestor worship since the Church formally acknowledged and allowed for the practice to continue.
“The Lands and Peoples of Southeast Asia.” National Geographic, March 1971.
This National Geographic spread gives a general overview of different Southeast countries and discusses their cultural practices, and often specifically addresses religion. What is specifically useful in this magazine for my paper is the photographs. They give good insight on the visual structure of formal ancestor worship in temples, churches, and altars. The photos give me a point of reference to compare ancestor worship from the past to today.
“The Value of Ancestor Worship Custom Remains Intact.” The Value of Ancestor Worship Custom Remains Intact – Nhan Dan Online. Accessed April 11, 2019. http://en.nhandan.org.vn/special_reports/item/4016602-the-value-of-ancestor-worship-custom-remains-intact.html.
This article discusses how ancestor worship is maintained and altered to fit modern society. The article gives examples of Vietnamese abroad who still practice honoring their ancestors in different ways. It also gives examples of familial practices that have remained in accordance with tradition. What makes this article useful is that it was published from a Vietnamese news website, which makes the information feel personal and genuine.
Vuong, Ocean. Night Sky With Exit Wounds. London: Jonathan Cape, 2017.
“Worshiping the Ancestors.” Worshiping the Ancestors | Southeast Asia Program. Accessed April 11, 2019. https://seap.einaudi.cornell.edu/worshiping-ancestors.
This article discusses the changes in dominant religion in Vietnam, and how ancestor worship was still practiced despite these changes. It goes through Buddhism,Taoism, Confucianism, Catholicism, and more, and how each religion influenced honoring practice. It also describes different methods of ancestor worship, going in depth to special celebrations as well.
For my Getting Friendly With Bacteria project I will be researching Listeria. I want to create a series of abstract drawings of the bacteria. My idea is that these drawings will generate curiosity for an audience without a lot of knowledge of the bacteria. I hope that the drawings will challenge the idea that bacteria are scary or not complex structures. Though listeria is a “harmful” bacteria I want to remind an audience that bacteria can also be seen as “beautiful” and remind people that they are life as well. Some facts about the bacteria will also be included next to the drawing on a poster. Below are some drawings I have completed.
Some facts on Listeria:
-Listeria infection is a foodborne bacterial illness that can be very serious for pregnant women and people with impaired immune systems.
-Listeria infection is most commonly contracted by eating improperly processed deli meats and unpasteurized milk products.
-If you develop a listeria infection, you may experience:
-Specific laboratory tests are the only way to diagnose this disease. A blood, spinal fluid, or amniotic fluid/placenta test that looks for the bacteria will be able to show if the disease is present.
-Listeriosis is treated with antibiotics. Ampicillin, either alone or in combination with other antibiotics, is often used.
-Since the bacteria is widespread in nature, basic sanitary measures such as using only pasteurized dairy products, eating cooked meats, washing produce, and washing hands, kitchen work surfaces, and utensils with soap and water immediately after they have been in contact with raw meat or poultry offers the best protection.
Tentative Project Schedule:
4/21 – Have all material collected to make video
4/29 – Finish Video and Hand Written Journal
5/3 – Finish collecting material for alters
5/5 – Test alter setup and projection and make finishing touches
For my final studio project I want to dissect the practice of ancestral worship within Vietnamese culture as a whole, as well as investigate how the practice has prevailed specifically in the context of contemporary diaspora culture.
I want to create an instillation that consists of two opposing altars and a video projection. One altar will be Catholic, and honor my mother’s family, while the other altar will be Buddhist, and honor my father’s family. The altars will be facing each other, while the projection will be on a wall, and will be able to be viewed in between the altars (refer to sketch).
The video will be a collection of found footage, videos I have taken, recordings of family oral histories regarding deceased family members that are being honored, and audio samplings of Vietnamese prayer. A journalistic book of my viewpoint of these familial stories will also be placed upon each altar, in order to show my personal connection to this issue. I want to create my own “answer” to this topic, instead of speaking for the entirety of the diaspora.
The altars will be traditionally Vietnamese in aesthetics, and will include photos, statues, fruit, and incense. It will be interactive, in which the audience will light incense and place it upon the altar while the video plays continuously.
The purpose of the video is to contradict the aspect of Viet ancestor worship that is meant to glorify the lives of people who have past. The oral histories will reveal the grim aspects of death in my family that are not often acknowledged such as suicide caused by ptsd, drowning while escaping by boat, and being executed.
Examples:
Dear Sun,
I know you don’t like getting personal, but I was just wondering about how you were doing. I came into the shop this week, and I was surprised to find out that you passed on the business to someone else, and are now traveling abroad in China! I was saddened by this, as I know you have devoted nine years towards building the shop into the neighborhood staple it is now. It seemed like such a sudden decision, but then again, you never did like to talk much, so I would not have expected to receive warning.
I walked into the store this week as I usually do. I made sure to turn off my ringer and hide my phone in my pocket a block before entering the store, made sure my hands were clean and empty, and remained quiet and tiptoed when I walked in. It was a super windy day too so I even made sure to shut the door softly so it did not slam! The fragrant smell of oolong hit me instantly as it always does, however, this time, I was greeted by Red, whom I now know is temporarily watching the shop until the new owner takes over. I must admit it was a bit odd to be greeted with a friendly “hello” by Red when I visited this week. As he struck up a conversation, I couldn’t help but feel guilty that we were breaking your sacred rules! I kept glancing over at your signs that read “No Video, No Ice Cream, No Food +Drink.” I am very used to you reciting these rules when I enter, and encouraging no talking. I remember the first time I came to your shop, you yelled at me and demanded that I leave because I had a phone in my hand. That is why I walk in so cautiously now, as I don’t want to risk missing out on what is important: your tea.
Though the ingrained caution towards the shop by your customers may be taken as humorous, I want to let you know that your legacy is felt deeper in the community. I had the honor of being able to spend a couple hours sitting at the shop with Red, and was able to meet many of your customers. Like me, they all walked in with an rehearsed caution. “What will I drink now to ease my migraines?,” “What will I take to sleep at night now?,” and “How will I calm my anxiety?” were among many of the questions asked when they realized that you no longer owned the shop. I understand their panic, as they explained that no other medicines or products had cured them like your teas.
The quality of your tea is undoubtedly the best, and your formulas so uniquely and carefully crafted. I learned from Red that you source your teas from all over the world, including China, India, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Japan, Ghana, and Nepal. I also learned that you derive your formulas from familial tradition, but also research the different ingredients you use, and how they affect the body and heal ailments. Your customers do not have to worry about their favorite teas being gone, as Red informed me that the new owner will be using your recipes still. What eased my sadness that you will be gone is that the new owner is someone who’s life you impacted greatly. She worked in the twin towers, and continued working in that area post 9/11. She began to experience serious health problems in her lungs, and tried every medicine under the sun. Nothing helped her, until she stumbled upon your tea shop and tried your formulas. She has not experienced lung problems since.
Your impact upon her life and the lives of so many others brings me comfort. Though we will no longer have your physical presence, our journey towards greater health through your work will forever be remembered by your customers. You will be dearly missed, but your legacy will be carried out through the success stories told of your healing, and through every sip of tea taken.
Sincerely,
Anh Dao
For my archive visit I went to the Museum of Chinese in America. Though they did not have a lot of resources on specifically tea shops in Chinatown, being able to look at photos of old Chinatown businesses was informative in itself. My project concentrated specifically on Sun’s Organic Garden, however, my goal was to explore the dynamic of a traditional Chinatown business, and its impact on the community. The paper and materials used to make my zine were sourced from a calligraphy supplier in Chinatown, in order to create this sense of community found in material goods exchanged at local businesses. My inspiration for the project stems from my comparison of newer Asian American businesses such as bubble tea shops, and older Chinatown businesses such as Sun’s Organic. Newer Asian American businesses are now trendy and heavily concentrated on marketing. Older Chinatown businesses are not representative of this, and rely on word of mouth and local demand for specific products. I think Sun’s Organic was a prime example of this, as shown in my depiction of the relationship between Sun’s aggressive and strong personality and her ability to still maintain a strong client base. Most businesses now have formulated ways of creating a positive customer experience, while older Chinatown businesses maintain clients based on quality products, rather than a service experience.
Works Cited
Kaufman, Joanne. “Bubble Tea Purveyors Continue to Grow Along With Drink’s Popularity.” The New York Times. August 16, 2017. Accessed February 28, 2019. https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/16/business/smallbusiness/bubble-tea.html.
“New York Chinatown History.” New York. Accessed February 28, 2019. http://new-york-chinatown.info/chinatown-history/.
Rosen, Elisabeth. “Asian-American Women Forge New Paths as Entrepreneurs.” Nikkei Asian Review. March 19, 2018. Accessed February 28, 2019. https://asia.nikkei.com/Location/Rest-of-the-World/North-America/Asian-American-women-forge-new-paths-as-entrepreneurs.
“Wing Wah Tea Parlor and Hop Lee Rice Shoppe on Bayard Street.” Digital image. Accessed February 28, 2019.
A look into sexual violence during the Vietnam War and Vietnamese “bar girl” culture