This piece is a portrait of my ideal state of mind when dealing with frustration and negativity. The composition is a system that filters the “dirt” entering my mind and uses it as a healing matter. The system consists of two levels which are the lotus and the nón lá (leaf hat). The lotus represents purity and resilience since it grows from mud. This is the mindset I want to achieve, which is being balanced in front of bad things, seeing the bright side, and turning them into benefits.
The nón lá, a traditional Vietnamese clothing item, on the other hand, represents Vietnamese culture, which is also a significant part of me as a person and as an artist since it is one of my main sources of inspiration. The “dirty” materials after going through the system become clean and go back to “heal” the apertures where they came from. This suggests that the negative feelings that I encounter if being processed properly, can prevent me from being affected by those feelings again.
