How have you evolved since your recent exhibition in 2007, Changing Identity?
I don’t think there is an evolution in the subject or theme as I am still focusing on a woman’s identity and what she is destined for. The only evolution in this exhibition is the technique and materials I use. This, in fact, is my first silk solo exhibition. In Changing Identity, I showed oil paintings. In Hidden Flower, all of my paintings are pigments on silk. I am much calmer, more tranquil and very careful when I paint on silk. Painting on canvas, on the contrary, puts me in a different state of mind.

What is the story behind this painting?
I often contemplate on the sorrow of women, especially Vietnamese women. Sadness and loneliness are universal human emotions, but for Vietnamese women, such emotions run much deeper as they tend to bury it deep in their hearts. They simply bear the cross quietly. And this is what I think makes them beautiful yet strong, mysterious yet charming.

Why this focus on women?
Women have always been my source of inspiration, not only for their physical beauty but also their inner beauty and graceful strength, which I have witnessed time and again in my grandmother, my mother, my sister, my friends and even in my own self. Their unbreakable spirit never ceases to amaze me. I want to share emotional burdens they bear but do not utter. I want to lighten their heavy emotional load. And most of all I want to send a message to the viewer of women’s competency at being able to succeed in her career while not compromising their traditional role as a homemaker.

Who are your favorite artists?
Van Gogh and Bui Xuan Phai.

How do you see the future of Vietnamese contemporary art?
I hope to see Vietnamese artists push their artistic boundaries and forge new paths. I also hope to see a more professional gallery system in the Vietnamese art scene. We currently have too many commercial galleries, which will be detrimental for Vietnamese art in the long run. And lastly, I hope to see Vietnamese art more highly priced in the world stage as this would prove our art is highly appreciated.