Lao Oi, Lao A...(O Ancient One...) 

Artists: Nhan Duc Nguyen (Artist in Residence, Vancouver), Miss Canadiana

Residency: May 35 to 30, August 1 to 8, 2008

Installation Opening: October 17, 2008

Central Middlee Scool Residency and Workshop: September 15 to 26, 2008

Artist Talk: October 18, 2008

Public Discussion: Are  You What You Eat?

Closing: Ritual Calling for Civic Harmony, November 8, 2008

Miss Canadiana Camille Turner

Visit and Performance: October 16, 17 ad 18, 2008

Nuguyen's Lao Oi, Lao A...(O Ancient One...) was comprised of artist's residencies, a major installation and a public installation planned to compliment British Columbia's 150th Anniversary. The installation opened on October 17 during Canada Citizenship Week. 

Lao Oi, Lai A...(O Ancient One) was a shrine-like installation based on Vietnamese animist traditions. Lao Oi, Lao A...(O Ancient One) was conceived through an intensive artist residency for Nhan Duc Nguyen that ran throughout the month of April, and periodically during the summer leading up to the opening of the shrine in October. During his residency Nguyen collected colloquial perceptions of citizenship and nationhood, solicited from interviews with citizens. Nguyen sampled opinions on Victoria-centric issues and concerns such as environmental issues, rental and housing concerns, transient populations, ethnicity and immigration. Formulated into text collages titled CHAT VICTORIA, these were displayed alongside DNA mirror strands, origami sculptures from participants and rotating flower core samples. CHAT VICTORIA featured an uncensored mass of questions (verbatim or statements-made-into questions) posted on the gallery walls in mirror-script. Viewers were invited to use small hand held mirrors to read them.
 

Lao Oi… coincided with Citizenship Week in October 2008 as part of British Columbia’s 150 Year Celebration.  Nguyen created a Vietnamese shrine, dedicated to Lao, and also developed a petition that called for Harmony.  It is a Vietnamese tradition for organizations and individuals to erect these shrines in public spaces during governmental events or civic holidays.  They are a way for citizens to ask for resolution and harmony pertaining to the health and welfare of the state and its citizens.  Nguyen explained, “One’s health is beyond Lao’s influence but one can ask for better healthcare. Lao is not able to help you in matters of love but if it is a matter of marriage—put it on the petition.

Nhan Duc Nguyen took the ability of food to adapt, transform and often become hallmarks of culture (much like the import of chili to Southeast Asia) as well as the ideas of nationhood and citizenship to create the installation Lao Oi, Lai A (O Ancient One...).

The Lao Oi project also included a visit by performance artist Miss Canadiana, Camille Turner. Miss Canadiana's visit included a public tour of the BC Legislative House, BC Royal Museum and The Royal Scott Hotel. She also spoke at a public ceremony in Central Middle School. Her appearances attracted much attention, and Miss Canadiana engaged over 1100 people during her public appearances.

Are You What You Eat? was a public discussion held at a nearby restaurant. Speakers included Nhan Duc Nguyen, performance artist Miss Canadiana, cultural Anthropologist Dr. Karoline Herbison and Chef and owner of Camille's restaurant, David Mincy. The forum addressed ideas of ethinc food as a cultural currency.

Nhan closed his exhibition with Ritual Calling for Civic Harmony, a ceremony that drew on his Vietnamese culture and interactive engagement with the shrine.