con cháu

Junior Thesis (2023-ongoing)

My mom has always introduced me to her friends as her con cháu, which means “her kid” in Vietnamese. I would sit and wave, responding in English “Hello, my name is Catherine”, because I had and still have a lack of fluency. As I grew up in America, a feeling of disconnect began to arise. There were certain language barriers, along with the sudden pause of doing different traditions they would do back in Vietnam. 

con cháu is the exploration of generations and the way that culture is passed down through them. With this, I begin to navigate through my curiosity about my identity as an Asian-American woman. As a grandchild and daughter, I’ve witnessed the exchange of cultures, being American and Vietnamese, that happens within my own home and also in the outside world. Using photography, I blend these two cultures while shining light on the important aspects of family and celebration within the community we've created.