Howard Tran

Artist

My work explores themes related to my background. My grandparents immigrated to Vietnam from China during WWII, and my family and I lived in Vietnam until I was twelve-years-old. Though we translated our last name from Chinese to Vietnamese and assimilated in some ways, we still had a different language and customs. There I was considered Chinese. China was my homeland.

After immigrating to the United States this identity came into question. In this new context my connections to China were less relevant: I was from Vietnam, with a Vietnamese name; I spoke the language. To Americans I was Vietnamese.

Now I have lived in the United States much longer than I have lived in Vietnam. I have assimilated to this culture to the extent that when I visit Vietnam, I no longer feel that country is my home. I consider myself Chinese Vietnamese American. I have aspects of all three cultures, yet I am in between them all. In my art I explore identity, home, keeping traditions, change, and the dichotomy between East and West.

Mekong #59
Encaustic, Paper Pulp, and Ink
52”x14”
2008

To-Tien #15

Mekong #56
Encaustic, Paper Pulp, and Ink
14” x 42”
2008

To-Tien #21, Mixed Media, 2008

To-Tien #21 detail