On the shores of our motherland,
we left
behind almost everything.
The most precious piece of Vietnam,
would be our memories.
Brandon Tho Harris (b.1995, Houston, Texas) is an interdisciplinary artist and arts professional based in Houston, Texas. His creative practice explores his identity as a child of war refugees.
Through intensive research on the Vietnamese diaspora in relation to his family history, he examines notions of intergenerational trauma, displacement, and the land as a living archive. Found in his work are often self-portraiture, his family archives, found objects, raw materials, and historical images portraying the Vietnam war. By the use of photography, video, performance, and installation, he provides viewers a deeper understanding of the complexities surrounding migration.
Harris’ work has been featured in exhibitions and projects at Asia Society Texas, Houston Center for Photography, and the Blaffer Art Museum. His projects have been funded through grants from The Idea Fund and Houston Art Alliance. He has participated in lectures and presentations at Yale University and Rice University, among others. He received his BFA in Photography and Digital Media from the University of Houston and currently is the Manager of Engagement and Communications at FotoFest.
Mẹ Việt Nam ơi, Chúng Con Vẫn Còn đây (Oh Mother Vietnam, We Are Still Here) is a multi-media virtual exhibition by Houston-based visual artist Brandon Tho Harris. This presentation of works emphasizes the resilience of this marginalized community through the artist’s journeys to sites in Seabrook, Texas, old and new Chinatowns, Village apartments, and his family’s homes throughout Houston.
The project includes a sculpture of a refugee boat, family archives, film photographs, landscape site scans, video and performance work.
Oh Mother Vietnam, We Are Still Here is a collaboration between the artist and his family. Through visual storytelling, Harris shares an intimate look into his family’s migration, movement, and displacement. He creates open dialogue for intergenerational healing between his family members to confront the deep-rooted traumas of war.
The project includes a sculpture of a refugee boat, family archives, film photographs, landscape site scans, video and performance work.
Oh Mother Vietnam, We Are Still Here is a collaboration between the artist and his family. Through visual storytelling, Harris shares an intimate look into his family’s migration, movement, and displacement. He creates open dialogue for intergenerational healing between his family members to confront the deep-rooted traumas of war.
“But only a mother can walk with the weight of a second beating heart.” – Ocean Vuong
This project is made possible with support from The City of Houston through Houston Art Alliance and The Idea Fund. The Idea Fund is a re-granting program administered by DiverseWorks, Aurora Picture Show, and Project Row Houses and funded by The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts.
A special thanks to Asia Society Texas Center, Asian Pacific American Heritage Association, The Joy Luck Film Club, Chao Center for Asian American Studies, Moody Center for the Arts, Erick Zambrano, Mary Mie-Anne Montenegro and friends and family for their support.
