"thương" is a cross-generational multimedia exhibition by Lillyanne Pham '24 that documents the stories of Vietnamese Portlanders, highlighting and sharing the experiences and places that have played a crucial role for the Vietnamese community in the city.
"thương" translates to "I love you," and is a term of affection that elders use in expressing feelings of love and care for those of younger generations.
Combining digital technology with a keen interest in connecting with people of various backgrounds, Pham conducted research and interviewed members of the Vietnamese community to learn about the places and memories of Portland that were important to them. Eight individuals shared 60 locations that resonated for them, and Lillyanne focused on 14 of these spaces to create 14 augmented reality (AR) worlds.
Viewers of the exhibition are invited to use their smartphones to virtually enter these worlds that take them to the distant or recent past in the lives of Vietnamese Portlanders and their children and grandchildren. The project is also expressed through augmented reality, a map, photography, and a printed newspaper available in the gallery.
Pham, who earned her Master of Fine Art in Contemporary Art Practice (Studio Practice) this year, was the 2023 winner of the Andries Deinum Prize for Visionaries and Provocateurs, awarded by the College of the Arts.
The exhibition will be on display from September 9, 2024, through December 14, 2024, in the Broadway Gallery in Lincoln Hall, with an Artist Talk on Friday, October 18 at 6:00 P.M. in the gallery.
The Broadway Gallery is open to those with an active PSU ID card.
Pictured: Hưởng Văn Lê, one of the eight subjects who shared their memories for this project, at Reed College in the early 2000s.
Read the announcement of the project.