Ogden Museum of Southern Art will commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Fall of Saigon with Hoa tay (flower hands), an exhibition that centers on emerging and established Vietnamese-American artists working throughout the American South. Opening March 15, 2025, Hoa tay will showcase twelve artists who use diverse media and styles to forge their distinctive vision, conveying narratives of the Vietnamese diaspora, both personal and universal.

On April 30, 1975, the People’s Army of Vietnam and the National Liberation Front of Vietnam seized the city of Saigon, definitively marking the end of the Vietnam War with the surrender of the Republic of Vietnam. This resulted in a mass exodus of Vietnamese people forced to flee their country due to political persecution. One and a half million people risked their lives crossing borders into Laos and Thailand, while others embarked on treacherous boat voyages in search of sanctuary. A large portion of the Vietnamese diaspora sought refuge throughout the United States, initially relocating to regions offering sponsorship. Many of these refugees permanently settled throughout the American South, including enclaves in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Florida, Georgia, Oklahoma, Virginia, North Carolina, and the District of Columbia. The Gulf Coast was a particularly favored destination due to its subtropical climate and access to familiar shrimping and fishing industries.

The anniversary of the Fall of Saigon, or Black April, is often viewed as a somber emblem of the loss of war, homeland, and family. It is simultaneously regarded as the initial establishment of Vietnamese communities within the American cultural landscape. Subsequent generations have grappled with the effects of displacement and assimilation into American culture, while also confronting systemic racism, anti-Asian sentiment, and the weight of collective trauma. At the same time, Vietnamese-Americans have demonstrated tremendous resilience and determination, significantly influencing the region’s culture through contributions to culinary arts, the beauty industry, literature, fine arts, and music. Half a century later, the catalytic influence of the Vietnamese community is an integral force in the evolution of a new Southern identity.

Collaborating Curator Uyên Đinh states, "Above all, Hoa tay provides a space for Vietnamese people in the American South to be proud of the diaspora's creative output and achievements, honed through years of hardship and resilience. This exhibition would not have been possible without our New Orleans community, whose trailblazing works and tireless efforts forge a fearless vision for the future. Along with Selina McKane and Bradley Sumrall, I am thrilled to present this energizing exploration of Vietnamese culture in the American South".

In Vietnam, a child is praised if they have many whorls on their fingertips. Similar to the rings that grow annually on tree trunks, the more circles a Vietnamese child has on their fingertips, the more artistically gifted they are believed to be. Hoa tay, loosely translated as “flower hands”, signifies marks of ingenuity, spirit, and talent in the arts. Even among those with hoa tay, no two people share the same fingerprint patterns. The artists in this exhibition are no exception—each brings a singular vision to their studio practice.

Selina McKane, Curatorial and Exhibitions Manager at the Ogden Museum, shares, "Hoa tay (flower hands) is of a particularly historic nature, not only pertaining to the 50th anniversary but as it bears witness to the ongoing and evolving creative renaissance within the Vietnamese diaspora in the American South. I am deeply humbled to present this special exhibition during this moment alongside my co-curators, Bradley Sumrall and Uyên Đinh."

As a whole, the work in this exhibition often engages with complex notions of displacement and the formation of a unique cultural identity. These artists use diverse media and styles to explore the nuanced duality of their Vietnamese-American experiences within the equally fraught history of the American South. Through acts of self-examination, each artist confronts the past, embraces the future, and bridges reconciliation of both. The task of looking inward and forward simultaneously seems impossible yet necessary—an exploration of rebirth that often stems from grief.

With this selection, Hoa tay (flower hands) brings these artists into dialogue with one another, serving as a tribute to fifty years of Vietnamese-American resilience and creativity in the United States.

Artists featured in Hoa tay (flower hands) include: Brandon Tho Harris, Christian Đinh, Đan Lynh Phạm, Kenny Nguyen, Kimberly Ha, Lien Truong, Loc Huynh, Marion Hoàng Ngọc Hill, Millian Pham Lien Giang, MyLoan Dinh, No-No Boy, and Vi Tuong Bui.

Special exhibition merchandise, including accessories, postcards, and a t-shirt, will be available in the Museum Store and online. Programming related to the exhibition will be announced closer to its opening date.