by Cristal Steuer

John Vo, a Worcester native and recent graduate of the College of the Holy Cross, was awarded a Fulbright grant to paint and study contemporary and traditional art in Vietnam. Only 1,000 college students nation-wide receive Fulbright grants.

While at Holy Cross, Vo, who double majored in philosophy and studio art, says an exhibition titled Changing Identity: Recent Works by Women Artists from Vietnam, held in the College’s art gallery during his senior year, helped spur him to apply for a Fulbright award.

After graduating from the College in 2009, Vo, whose parents are Vietnamese refugees, worked on a portfolio of artwork dedicated to Vietnamese art to submit to the Fulbright committee. Six months later, he was accepted.

Vo left for Ho Chi Minh City in September.  “I’m trying to immerse myself in the culture and experience what it means to live in Vietnam,” explains Vo.  “Currently, I am taking classes in silk painting and wood block printing at the University.”

Vo is studying at Ho Chi Minh City’s San-Art, a non-profit organization which provides exhibition space, residency programs for young artists, lecture series and an exchange program that invites international artists and curators to organize or collaborate on exhibitions.

So, why did he choose Vietnam?  “When I was a kid my parents use to tell me about their lives in Vietnam, about family and friends,” explains Vo. “But because I was born in the United States, these memories seem like myths.  I felt that by going to Vietnam I could get an understanding of who my parents are and who I am. This, in combination with painting made the choice for me.”

Before Vo left for Vietnam, he had been creating artwork and putting on shows in Boston. He plans to put forth similar efforts on the other side of the globe.  “The best word to sum up my work is ‘layers.’ If you can imagine taking a scene out of everyday life ~ and dissecting the information from it like peeling an onion ~ than that would be what my paintings are like,” explains Vo. “Each layer has a certain amount of information conveyed through symbols and imagery.  As you get closer to the surface more layers are present but each reacting to the one before it.  All of this to make a unified scene.”

Vo may be doing what he loves, but it doesn’t come without a bit of culture shock. He says he has never been anywhere that is so hot all year round.  “Right now it’s supposed to be the ‘cool season’ season,” jokes Vo.
According to Vo, the major difference between the states and Vietnam is the motorbike traffic. “You have people driving like mad men,” exclaims Vo. “People will be driving on sidewalks, run red lights, and go down the road in the wrong direction.  The road set up is the same as the United States, just the rules are different.  What’s hard is crossing the street!”

What he really misses from the U.S. is junk food, although he can still get a cheeseburger.  Vo says he eats at the Carl’s Jr. that’s in Ho Chi Minh City.  But his favorite Vietnamese food is a Com Suon, a pork-chop and rice dish.

Vo will be in Vietnam for the year;  towards the end of his visit, he plans to have an exhibition showing the work that he produced during his time there. “In ten years I hope to still be painting,” shares Vo.

Photo: Vo poses in front of a lion statue at an amusement park in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.