from the artist statement:

THE VIETNAMESE

Having grown up in a conservative society and endured the consequences and conflicts surrounding the Vietnam War, my life-long fantasy has always been to live in a world of freedom and unlimited imagination. While I embark on this personal exploration of identity, I start to unravel what it means to be Vietnamese at this time in history. My photographs are staged narratives and are a combination off personal and fictional experiences. Whether these images are based on real events or dream-like sequences, they are simultaneously hovering in the same moment. Each image may appear to be telling stories of the individuals being photographed; but they are actually revealing a sense of my own story.

I believe people, regardless of their origins all share similar experiences and learn to survive by the same hope and love. Many times I like to leave the story unsolved because ultimately, the viewer will define the best narrative, according to his or her own history and experience.

--Brian Doan