2021

Embroidery with silk organza, leaf skeletons, death insect, monofilament yarn and  mica

65 x 40 x 40cm

Vinpearl Resort, Phú Quốc island, Việt Nam

In the sprawling Vinpearl Resort, a massive retreat area born from the remnants of a once-vast rainforest, the whispers of leaves linger. I contemplate the essence of trees that relinquished their dominion for the expanse of this resort. Do their spirits, still tethered to this realm, echo through the passage of time? Amidst the laughter of visitors and the hum of life, the question arises: Should the souls of these trees be venerated by those who now flourish in the shadows they once cast?

 

Within the heart of Vietnamese business enclaves, the legacy of devotion endures through altars honoring the Spirit of the land (Thổ Địa). However, my altar embodies a narrative not only of nature's silent sacrifice but also of humanity's symbiotic hope with the dissolving forests. An age-old tradition, rooted in the belief that spirits of lands wield influence over the prosperity of the soil and commerce should be extended with reverence to forest and trees spirits as well.

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