Hien Cao Art

* The First Stitch 'The First Stitch, (2021)' represents the two shirts sewn by Hien's mother. They were one of the few things her mother was able to take with her when Hien’s family fled their home country because of war. Clothing is not frivolous. It can reveal a true reality, lived experiences that surround our bodies, our lives, our identity. It helps us to create memories that are important to us. Threads and seams explain how her mother managed to fix one of the ripped shirts with what little they had in the refugee camp in the Philippines. These shirts evoke lived experiences, the origins of her culture and at the same time reveal her Vietnamese identity. The fabrics used to make the shirts were made in Vietnam and so she can boast that these two pieces of clothing represent the authenticity of a lost but not forgotten identity. “Hien’s mother portrait” The portrait of Hien’s mother done by a sewing machine recalls the image of a young Vietnamese woman deeply immers...

* For SALE Embroideries Samples (8x6 in) Direct Contact with the artist hiencaonguyen@gmail.com or   Instagram Thank you

From the Lab to Art Whilst using art, Hien's goal is to develop a piece where viruses and bacteria can actually be admired for their natural beauty; through these attractive pieces of art she intends to emphasise the vital message to the public 'Clean hands save lives.'

The theme of the project is   “Uncertain Destination”   – for that is what life is. Hien has used wires as a metaphor for pathways and rust textures as metaphors of passing time. Also by sketching people in Galway city, her reflection and curiosity were; where they are coming from and where they are going. ‘We are what we are because of our own choices and consequences of life’. She created samples combining the three objects (wires, rust texture and people) representing the passage of time and consequence of choices. The work is incorporating textile techniques such as devoré, screen painting, dying and clothing sculpture. She has used the devoré technique to draw the background and screen painting to show the silhouettes of people taking different pathways. To include the theme of time passing, she has used dispersed dye to create rust-like textures and then she made a clothing sculpture which she placed on the top of the dress. Her aim is to develop a piece of textile that ...

Inspired by her own photos. Hien did some painting on garments and papers.  And she was trying to achieve the rusting effects as the meaning of passing time. Painting on a synthetic garment Painting on paper