The Asian Pacific American Heritage Association Artist Spotlight aims to bring the community of Houston, Texas together to celebrate the genius and talent of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders for the month of May for Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.

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(Houston, Texas) May 12, 2021 - As we celebrate the Asian American and Pacific Islander
Heritage Month, the Asian Pacific American Heritage Association along with the Chao Center for Asian Studies at the Rice University will join organizations and individuals across the country to celebrate our genius and talents by featuring the performance of Brandon Tho Harris, a first generation Vietnamese American interdisciplinary artist who explores his identity as a child of war refugees. Harris’ work incorporates self-portraiture, his family archives, and historical images portraying the Vietnam war. Through the use of photography, video, performance and installation, he allows the viewers a deeper understanding of the complexities surrounding migration. He was recently featured in an exhibition at the Asia Society Center of Texas, Houston Center of Photography, and the Blaffer Art Museum to name a few. He was also awarded The Idea Fund grant in 2019. He graduated with a Bachelors of Fine Arts in Photography and Digital Media in 2021 at the University of Houston and is currently the Manager of Engagement and Communications at FotoFest.

APAHA Artist Spotlight premiering the video of Brandon Tho Harris’ performance titled “Nước, Water, (Home)land” on May 26, 2021 online. The performance will take place by the Occam’s Wedge by artist Beverley Pepper at the Rice University. It will be a remembrance for the Vietnamese people who migrated to the Houston area after the war.

 

This program was funded by Asian Pacific American Heritage Association, co-sponsored by Chao Center for Asian American Studies and Moody Center for the Arts at Rice University. Organized by Matt Manalo.