Canada + Vietnam Celebrating 50 Years in Relations

To mark the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Canada and Vietnam, the Consulate General of Canada in Ho Chi Minh City and the Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam hosted a celebratory event at Vietnam's Independence Palace on the evening of Monday, August 21st, 2023.

Students and alumni from OCAD U who has a personal connection to Vietnam were asked to submit work and were selected to show their works digitally during an exhibition in Ho Chi Minh City as part of the reception showcasing Canadian art and culture to their 400 - 500 guests.

Works were selected and curated for this exhibition "Tracing the Lines" by OCAD U alumni Tak Pham.

In celebration of the diplomatic relationship between Canada and Vietnam, Tracing the Lines is a digital exhibition featuring artwork from a select group of students and alumni of OCAD University, Toronto. This exhibition not only showcases the exceptional artistic skills and talents of OCADU students but also invites the audience to appreciate the critical perspectives and nuanced sensibilities that these promising young artists develop and nurture.

A recurring theme throughout the curated artworks is the message of "home." The artists draw inspiration from their experiences as Vietnamese students in Canada or as second-generation Vietnamese Canadians reconnecting with their homeland. The result is a diverse representation that captures the intricate interplay of the Vietnam-Canada experience and the shared history of these two nations.

Hau Pham's painting series of tourist souvenirs collected from Vietnam evokes a sense of nostalgia, portraying an intimate desire to bridge generational gaps among Vietnamese living abroad and to foster a deeper understanding of Vietnam's culture and history. Pham’s paintings also provide snapshots into the presentation of Asian women and broader diasporic lived experiences in Western societies such as Canada.

Through Kevin Pham's collection of street photographs taken during his 2019 trip to Ha Noi, Hoi An, and Ho Chi Minh City, viewers gain a unique perspective on everyday life in Vietnam. Connie Lee's illustration of two Vietnamese elders engrossed in a Chinese chess game offers an engaging cultural snapshot. Likewise, Lee’s animated works further celebrate genuine Vietnamese elements like bánh xèo and family bonds.

Food, a cornerstone of Vietnamese culture, takes center stage in Khang Do’s digital mural. In showing a medley of street foods, the mural pays homage to the culinary traditions that generations of contemporary Vietnamese have cherished. Beyond their role as culinary creations, dishes like bánh mì, dried and grilled meats, and rice-paper salads symbolize Vietnam's responsiveness and adaptability to cultural, historical, societal, and environmental shifts.