The work "No Star Where" features a collection of glove sculptures made from rice paper, a material often associated with Vietnamese cuisine and culture. These sculptures are a reinterpretation of gloves worn by Vietnamese immigrants in the city of Halle, with whom the artist had the opportunity to meet and converse. Coming of age in the post-war era, the artist has come to recognize the enduring legacy of "war" in various forms: in people, ideologies, alive stories, ramifications, the dispersion of immigrant communities far and wide, in language, culture, in the fluidity of identity, on flesh, sandy soil, or even in everyday meal.

 

Rice paper is a common culinary deeply rooted in the artist's homeland of Central Vietnam. While there is no specific documentation regarding its origin, it frequently appears in records related to migration and wartime movement due to its dry and lightweight nature, making it easy to store for long periods. The material's adaptable nature in various solid and liquid environments also evokes further contemplation.

 

"No Star Where” (a place of "no star”) may symbolize days when we feel drained of vitality and devoid of dreams, when we turn away from looking forward, from gazing at the sky and the stars. Yet, it could also be a place of “No Star Where” (no sweat off our back) - a place containing the fierce vitality that the artist perceives in the Vietnamese people in general. The labor gloves, providing warmth and protection, serve as metaphorical objects safeguarding their steadfast diligence in living and working in a foreign land.

 

*"No Star Where - Không Sao Đâu" is a linguistic play on words created by Vietnamese people, simply translating the meaning of each word and putting them together. However, the accurate translation is that "Không Sao Đâu" means "No worry / It’s all good" and "No Star Where" is meaningless, having no significance.

 

---​

Photo Exhibition: by Matthias Ritzmann

© 2023 Nguyen Vu Xuan Ha