Museum of Contemporary Art
220 E Chicago Ave
312.280.2660
This event has passed.
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Howard Henry Chen, Journey to the West #8 (detail), Courtesy Schneider Gallery
- When
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Aug 2, 2008 – Aug 31, 2008
Tuesdays (10am–8pm)
Wednesdays–Sundays (10am–5pm)
- Where
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- Price
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$10
- Links
Howard Henry Chen's exhibition at the MCA is made up of just four artworks — a photographic triptych and three sculptural ensembles — but that's enough to give shape to an evocative reflection on Vietnam's hybridized culture. Born in Saigon but raised in the US, Chen has traveled to his homeland repeatedly in recent years to observe and document the ongoing changes. The works incorporate exotic orchids, busts of Ho Chi Minh, and various cooking materials, splicing together references to Buddhist traditions, Vietnam's colonial history, and globe-spanning consumerism. Each work elicits multiple metaphorical readings, echoing the tensions and uncertainties of a dynamic culture.
