Dear Diary

Thank You, Bà Nội (Grandmother), Reflection and Deep Breaths are from Phạm’s on-going series of prints, referred to as her “visual diary,” that explore the complexities of cultural identity and belonging, navigating the tension between past and present, tradition and adaptation. Throughout this body of work Phạm reveals deeply personal experiences – she writes that "Thank You, Bà Nội (Grandmother) reflects my evolving sense of home and safety. As a child, calling my Bà Nội back home in Vietnam (while carefully rationing my limited international phone minutes) was my anchor to the culture and family I left behind. Her voice grounded me, offering comfort and connection across time zones and borders.

Now, through ancestral rituals, I welcome her spirit into my present home in Oklahoma. This piece embodies the transformation of connection, memory, and belonging." In Reflection, Phạm depicts her conflicting feelings following a mental health diagnosis – finding peace in learning to manage her symptoms while wrestling with the discomfort of stigmatization. Furthermore, in Deep Breaths, Phạm reflects on learning to rest and overcoming the guilt rooted in an upbringing where leisure was a luxury within a survival-driven mindset.

(extended label text by Ogden Museum of Southern Art)