Toast of the Town: Art Edition on May 27 at Eve Lounge in SF:

Diasporic Vietnamese Artists Network (DVAN)‘s aim is to promote artists from the Vietnamese Diaspora whose work in literature, visual art, film and performance art enriches our communities and strengthens ties between Vietnamese across the globe.  DVAN undertake to support this body of work through cultural events, exhibits, and publications that explore connections between art and society.  DVAN is international in scope.  It provides resources and promotes the work of Vietnamese artists in the United States, France, Canada, and Australia, as these countries host the largest Vietnamese communities overseas.  It also supports artists who have returned to Vietnam and produce from that location.

Vivian KD Truong

Vivian is a Vietnamese-Japanese fiber artist, photographer, and occasional doodler.  She creates artwork dealing with the idea of a split identity and reaching a common sense of “home.”  Using felt, paper, fabric, photographs, wood and other found objects, her work aims to address the moments of impermanence in everyday life.

Trinh Mai

Trinh Mai specializes in all traditional mediums, including but not limited to pastel, watercolor, oil on canvas, ink and charcoal, and acrylic.  Her works are often influenced by her family’s history and experiences as Vietnamese refugees.

Truong Tran

Truong Tran is committed to using recycled materials as an environmentally conscious artist.  He strives to make art accessible through both its practice and use of materials.

Varuj (Ben) Sukhsevi
Varuj (Ben) Sukhsevi specializes in wilderness and landscape photography. He first opened his physical gallery in Hawaii by joining the organization called “Art on the zoo fence”. Ben has recently moved to California since early Feburary 2011 and is now continuing his beloved hobby in this beautiful state.

Quan-Tuan Luong

Originally trained as a scientist, Quang-Tuan Luong made fundamental contributions to the field of artificial intelligence. He is also an accomplished climber, mountain guide, and acclaimed professional photographer.  His attraction to Yosemite National Park have resulted in him becoming the first person to have photographed all 58 US National Parks with a large format camera, allowing for unprecedented depth and detail.

Viet-Thi Ta

Viet-Thi produces free as well as commissioned art pieces.  Her goal as an artist is to use art as a medium to communicate her ideals and feelings towards the progression of Asian Americans.

The exhibit is a collection from 10 Vietnamese museums, with art dating from the first millennium B.C. to the 17th century A.D.  You’ll experience dozens of cultures from both inside and outside Vietnam.  Fascinating pieces you can expect include: a bronze drum as hefty as a hot tub, a wooden Buddha, Hindu deities, contortionist dancers, a tiny serpent of beaten gold basks, and ceramic plates and bowls.  The exhibit will remain the the New York museum from Feb. 2 to May 2.  Make sure to stop by to show support for Vietnamese art if you’re in the area!

Check out the New York Times article by Holland Scott here to learn more about Vietnam’s art history and influences.