Artists Statement:

Homage to Hanoi indicates how the city represents a kind of ideal that becomes manifest in my work.

Firstly, in its address to the senses: It is a visual city, but also appeals the senses of smell and hearing. Most importantly, in relation to my paintings, is its address to the sense of touch. I like the way that so much of the local architecture is improvisational; it has been added to or changed out of practical necessity. Building designs from different periods rub up against one another and within a single structure there may be an abundant variety of stylistic notes due to the use of whatever materials are at hand.

Secondly, the city continues to have a conversation with nature. Nature seems to shape aspects of city life here, including how the waves of traffic are filled with surprising and diverse human incident; trees grow out from between buildings and seem to be given a kind of respect. The vegetation always seems on the verge of returning the city to the forest.

Thirdly, I am immensely drawn to how the weather adds depth to the architecture. I hope that St. Joseph’s Cathedral is never painted, for example.

Homage to Hanoi also refers to all the artists in Hanoi that I have developed a friendship with over the past few years. I should also mention that it is a homage to Tran Trung Tin, who, to me, is the great Hanoi abstract painter and one of my favorite artists. I sometimes use newspaper, too. Not like him, out of necessity, but because it is a common material that is impermanent. It is important, I think, that Tin sometimes permitted the newsprint to guide his paintings. It is as if he was saying that the artist cannot think of everything, sometimes he must be passive in the face of his materials. That is what I try to do in my work. Show myself, but let the materials speak, too.