Memories

Le Huy Hoang was very different to how I had imagined him. Born during the war he had lost his father at the age of three and then later when he was just thirteen he was sent to a military training camp. His father was Cambodian and mother Vietnamese but Hoang was clear about his nationality. "I am a human" he told me, "simply a human".

After years as a soldier, then a refugee and then finally returning to Vietnam it seemed Hoang was finally happy. He had taken up art and was advised to use his life experience to influence his work. After 20 years since leaving Cambodia as a refugee he returned to participate in a large scale group exhibition with other artists who were dealing with their experiences under Pol Pot. Hoang however showed no bitterness to his life. Now happily married with a four year old daughter he was now settled. Settled with his family as well as with his occupation. It was an interesting day which once again Linh had set up perfectly. Through Hoang we were exploring the past and linking it to now, to me we were re-imaging Hanoi.

Labels: Art School, D J Clark

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