Pencil illustration on paper and Procreate

4385 × 3100

Turmoil like wars and conflict can create generational trauma for the Vietnamese people. Since our ancestors lived in fear, younger generations can absorb the nation’s anxiety as early as when we are in our mothers’ wombs - as represented by the circular dark canvas of this piece. 

Within the womb features how five different generations may experience the inherited wounds. The first generation (top-middle) is hurt by external forces and internalizes that pain before reaching over to cast those traumas onto their descendants. Their immediate descendants (right two poses) try to break free from their ancestors’ wounds. However, the fight is difficult and rarely are we successful in fully extricating ourselves from intergenerational wounds. Therefore, as the cycle persists, many of us choose to curl up (left two poses) in surrender. All we can do is to attempt to repress those insecurities. Ultimately, the traumas that entangle many generations become a part of who we are.

A project by Khue Nguyen.