Statement

I aim to produce works that reflect myself, exploring ideas of the Asian feminine identity, to understand how one values themselves and how that value is determined by others. Translating these reflections with oil paint and found or made objects, my works communicate guilt, confusion and uncertainty embedded in the history of Ornamentalism.

The questioning of value is what drives my work. What does it mean to desire, care for, or idealize something? Has objectification ever been mistaken for love? Value is often placed in objects, and objects are considerably traced to identity. We use objects as indicators for how we see ourselves, or how we choose to understand others. But objects often are treasured solely for their face value beauty, and any other context is discarded.

Likewise, there is a perception of Asian women in the western world that reduces our worth to nothing more than a sexual item. In the same way that “foreign” artifacts from the east are housed in the museums of the countries that invaded them, Asian women are fetishized in such a way that is dehumanizing, and places strict value on how beautiful we are. When we see what value is placed upon us, it determines our daily routine, our aesthetic decisions, and how we understand ourselves when we look in the mirror.

My work seeks to delve into how we have ignored, or coped, or been aware of what is expected of us, and the resulting kinship and learned identity. My works personify the object, and objectify the individual, creating a tension between the two as they become inseparable.

Bio

Hau Pham is an emerging artist based in Vaughan, Ontario. She is a graduate of OCAD University (2021), with a BFA in Drawing and Painting and a minor in English. Her work draws heavy influence from her South-East Asian Heritage and Buddhist upbringing. Her artistic focus relies on the intersection of one's relationship with the object, and the perception of Asian women in the western world. Hau's research and inspiration is largely pulled from her personal experiences, and from her friends and family who fit into the same group identity. Her works attempt to reflect and investigate the guilt, exhilaration, and confusion of the Asian feminine experience.

Since graduating, she has been included in the group exhibition "moveObjects On" at The Plumb, had her debut solo show "Object of Affection" at Afternoon Projects, and was the first recipient winner of the Homepage for Change Grant for emerging BIPOC artists and designers with Juliet Creative.

CV

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