Eight Artists Explore Vietnam War Legacy Through Contemporary Art Practices

In May 1970, the Art Strike Against racism, sexism, repression, and war led numerous New York cultural institutions to close or modify operations in response to U.S. military expansion into Cambodia and domestic violence against protesters. Fifty years after American troops left Vietnam in April 1975, eight artists from Southeast Asia and different generations are examining the conflict's enduring impact through their work. Their reflections were prompted by recent New York programming marking the war's 50th anniversary, including a series at Performance Space New York organized by Lumi Tan, Anh Vo, and maura nguyễn donohue. These artists are moving beyond direct war imagery to explore the long-term consequences and complexities of the conflict through innovative artistic approaches.