This is an ongoing body of work that concerns homesickness from the perspective of a Vietnamese abroad. The project

draws from my experience as a Vietnamese national living in New York City and a reflection of my evolving relationship with

Vietnamese culture and heritage. As a privileged Vietnamese, I went to a private international school from a young age. That

experience fostered my desire to leave, study abroad and integrate myself to the Western landscape and values. However, over time, I

became increasingly insecure about my Vietnamese identity. Living and studying in New York, I gained a conscious awareness of my

Vietnamese roots and identity. I became nostalgic and appreciative of the simplicity of life in Vietnam and developed a newfound

appreciation of Vietnamese culture and its history. The project seeks to communicate this newfound appreciation and the longing of

being away from home. Through intricate recreation of daily Vietnamese rituals and activities that I missed and yearned in New York

City, I explore my attempts to cope with homesickness by bringing a piece of Vietnam with me. Such highly stylized photographs are

going to be contrasted with a more intimate documentation of my family and social life during my short visits in Vietnam. Together, the

collection of photographs is going to showcase the unshakable bond that I have with my Vietnamese heritage and identity regardless

of where I am in the world. Ultimately, I want to present myself as a contemporary Vietnamese with privilege and access to the world

while still maintaining a Vietnamese perspective and identity.