SAIB KUV

"Watch Me - See The Hmong In Me"

In Progress proudly presents

a collection of photographic works by emerging artists

from the Twin Cities Hmong community.

The works speak to the rich diversity that exists within every culture. It calls for everyone to watch and appreciate

the desires, fears and aspirations of the young artists that produced the contents of this book.

The works were all created through the use of digital cameras and computers and were then printed, framed and presented publicly by the following artists

Houa Lor Mee Thao Sai Thao Kao Choua Vue Jessie Zubiran

We thank all of the artists that have lent their work to the beauty of Saib Kuv

(cover art by Mainou Vue)

�

HMONG ME

I am proud to wear Hmong clothes because it shows that I respect being Hmong. When I look at this picture it makes me feel

proud and happy being a Hmong girl. My face shows that there are two feelings about being Hmong.

First, that I am proud and happy being Hmong.

Second, is that sometimes I think about how it is being Hmong.

What would it be like to ������������ and ��� to have Xiong as my last name?

I am proud to be Hmong and will always keep my last name sacred.

Both my race and last name are an honor to have and be a part of.

Yunie Xiong

�

HMONG ME Serina & Mainou Vue

�

HMONG ME Sai Thao

�

HMONG ME

This is the life we have in the United States.

We have adapted to the culture and language here.

But we are losing ours, even though our parents

teach us. We were fluent then, but as we grow

older English is what we have had to learn. We are

forgetting where we came from and the history itself.

The Hmong people’s past, culture, and language are

disappearing. As time goes by, we too are fading

and disappearing.

Cha Lor

�

HMONG ME

Being raised in America, I feel it is hard for me to be

connected with my Hmong culture. When I wear

my Hmong clothes it makes me feel like a true

Hmong women. My hat is made from a black cloth.

Sewn on to it are beads with colorful puffballs at-

tached to the ends. It symbolizes the beautiful flow-

ers of the summer. I am wearing a heavy silver

necklace with beautiful carvings and chains hanging

from it. My shirt was made from a carefully chosen

silky blue cloth. The beauty of the flowers that

blooms on it expresses the loveliness of spring. And

what truly makes it wonderful is that my mother had

sewn it with her own hands.

Mee Thao

�

HMONG ME

What makes me, me

My beautiful fiery red eyes…

Is the sign of confidence,

My silver Hmong pendant…

Shows who and what I truly am,

My unbreakable stares,

And my soft glares…

Love, peace, serenity…

But now, there only lies part of me…

Just me…

The necklace

The glares

And stares

The eyes

Are what makes me, me

Choua Lor

�

���������

Watch me FLOW along with rice, tradition and

culture.

Let me just flow along the cracks on

the floor.

I leave these spaces for you to move freely.

My face structures out this baby beauty.

But if you know me,

My beauty will soak your mind.

This dimension will change what we can’t

define.

But if you try hard, you will find it in me.

Kao Choua Vue

�

HMONG WE

We’re Americanized and yet this is what they don’t see. We do as we want, while they do what they think is best.

We break traditions. While they try to keep it going.

We’re lesbians. We’re Hmong.

Why is it so wrong? Put up with it or we both walk out! Yell at us and we close our ears!

Tell us to let go? Well what kind of parents are you then?

Why can’t you just have pride in us? Why is it that our elders cannot see or understand what true love is?

Even though we are lesbians we are also Hmong. Please just accept that we’re Hmong and Americanized

and that we are in love!

Maisee Thao Deanna Xiong

�

HMONG ME

When the days became shorter, I became weaker. When the days grew darker, I began to fade. When I was in the dark alone, I had no one to hold. But when I cried, my tears dropped onto the dark floor. Then I saw a bright light heading my way. By the time I knew it, I was reaching for the light. I flew like the wind. I reached the sun. I touched it with all my wisdom. Now I’m as bright as the sun. Now I know that it was the sun that was head-ing my way and I thank the sun. Now I am holding that sun to know I am no longer alone. In the dark, dark path. Now I am in the bright path to walk and I thank the sun that brought light to me. The sun wanted to be in my heart to bring light to every-one I know. So I let the sun in. I’ll keep it as a secret to myself. Now that it is a secret

Shhhh….

Gaona Xiong

�

HMONG ME

can you see me?

can you see through to me?

can you see the HMONG in me?

I CAN

Mainyoua Thao

HMONG ME Ying Yang & Meng Xiong

�

HMONG ME Cheenou Xiong & Houa Lor

�

PINK

I like pink!

Pink is my favorite color.

I get pink shoes and socks and even pink bracelets.

I like to paint my nails pink too.

I like pink!

I am most happy when I’m dressed in pink.

It is a good day to be pink!

Maniechan Xiong

�

HMONG MEE

I am a proud Hmong woman.

The symbols are already engraved within me, strengthening my heart.

Even though I was born in the U.S. my blood is still pure.

My mind may be tainted with other cultures,

but I am still what I was born to be.

Mee Thao

MORE THAN JUST A HMONG CLOTH

This is my world in front of you

It is etched into my skin

It can’t be taken away

I live and die with it

I wear my people’s history on my back

I am honor and carry it with me

Kao Choua Vue

(portrait of Mee Thao)

�

FROZEN

Existence evolves

as time sits still

frozen

awaiting to be

defrosted

by our growth

Sai Thao

�

MYSTERY OF THE HMONG

There is a mystery

behind the beads

do you know

what it is?

it is the face

of a very

intelligent girl

named

Mainou

Mainou Vue

�

A BEAUTIFUL DAY

This picture

is of me

looking down

from the sky

smiling

happily

on a

beautiful day

Mainou Vue

�

MOTHER

I am so young and hopeless

My baby and I run within this never-ending jungle

I am so young and hopeless

I cannot find peace when night falls or daybreak

I am constantly running

I am so young and hopeless

Where is my freedom?

Where is my home?

I am a young mother

I am a young widow

Forgive me baby if I do fail you

You were born in a time to struggle to survive

Kao Choua Vue

THIS PICTURE

this journey is not going to end

hand in hand we hold strong not knowing what is before us

and not learning to forget what is behind us

this picture was not supposed to be kept but this is what was left of us

it was to be ripped apart and thrown away but

we’d rather have it buried along with us

this picture is for my family

Kao Choua Vue

OPIUM

look at the poppy seed

that was his life he smoked it as medicine

now

he abuses it as an addiction

he brought shame to the family

he wasted our last drop of money on those poppy seeds

that was his life that was his life

Kao Choua Vue

FRIENDS & ENEMIES

This is me

This is my best friend

This is us

Sai Thao

�

NATURE

this is our nature

to be this way

to want to change

to be a certain way

this is our nature

to choose to be like this

like the outside nature

the petals and the leaves

they fall

that is our nature

Kia Thao, Mee Thao & Kao Choua Vue

�

STRANGERS

strangers they come and go. I am one of them

will you remember me?

strangers

they build and build and every one of them becomes

a stranger I am one of them

Will you remember me?

portrait of Maisee Thao writing by Kao Choua Vue

Various Photographers

�

RELIEF

Relief because we escaped from the war

Exposed children back in Laos

Frightening looks on the faces of the people

Losing loved ones along the way

Every little detail of the great loss

Coming to the U.S. was a

Turning point for some of the Hmong

Illusions in our mind

Only our parents understands how it really feels

If only there were no more violence back in Laos…

Choua Lor

�

GOING-GOING-GOING -GONE

This life we have in the United States

We have adapted to the culture and language here

But we are losing ours

Our parents teaches us

We were fluent then, but as we grew older

English is what we ad to learn

We are forgetting where we came from and the history itself

The Hmong people’s past, culture, and language is disappearing

As time goes by, we fade and disappear

Cha Lor

�

MY GRANDMA IS FROM LAOS Maniechan Xiong

�

HMONG AMERICAN Hongfa Thao

�

HMONG NEW YEAR

I like to dress up. I like to go to the Hmong New Year.

When I go, I see many older girls.

I like visiting with the older girls.

I like to buy toys at the New Year too.

Going to Hmong New Year

makes me

happy.

Maniechan Xiong

�

HMONG GIRLS ROCK

My friends and I are wearing Hmong clothes to show that we rock as Hmong

girls. The flowers on our faces shows that we want peace and respect. When I

look at this picture it makes me feel like I have respect, and everyone needs

respect. I am proud that there are other Hmong girls in this photo with me

because it makes me feel stronger to know that I’m not alone.

Hmong girls ROCK!

Yunie Xiong

�

�

ME-N-THE FOUNTAIN

The water falls out like a newborn baby.

And that’s how I felt when I’m living in that fountain.

The fountain is like my home.

Where I am protect and heal there.

The fountain is my place I like to be.

When I am alone I go to that fountain than soon I know I am not alone anymore.

I get heal and I get protect.

That is fun how I am living in that fountain.

The fountain represents nature and beauty to me.

And this is the fountain that I am living in.

Gaona Xiong

�

REMEMBERING SAD MOMENTS

I tried so hard not to notice

I pretended not to care

And when you passed me

I faked a smile on my lips

Made you think that I was happy

Time has passed and

I even convinced me too

Then you walked on by

And memories flooded my mind

I tried so hard to forget

I pretended not to stare

I’m jealous of your smile

I noticed you’re happy

Yunie Xiong

�

BLINDED

I am blinded by what I want and look to others for help. I can’t understand these feel-

ings and I drowned myself with fear. I am a frozen dreamer who craves for new begin-

nings. No one can help me I need to help myself. So I lay here to be one with the earth

as I put my fear to rest.

Mee Thao

�

REFLECTION

Every single day I wonder about who I am today. I take a glimpse in the mirror but I do

not know who is looking back at me. This game has been going on for too long. I take a

rest at trying to find out who she is, and I find she is my reflection. My reflection shows

who I have become: a Hmong girl living in a world that is not her own. This place she

calls home is just another trap to make her feel vulnerable. I am in denial; destroyed and

torn into pieces. My reflection shows the truth hidden behind a little smile. My reflec-

tion…

Maniechan & Gaona Xiong

�

Saib Kuv Artists

Cha Lor Choua Lor Houa Lor

Mainyoua Lor Hongfa Thao

Kia Thao Maisee Thao

Sai Thao David Vang

Kao Choua Vue Mainou Vue Serina Vue

Ty Vue Cheenou Xiong Deanna Xiong Gaona Xiong

Maniechan Xiong Meng Xiong Yunie Xiong Ying Yang

�

Acknowledgements

����Saib Kuv������������� ���������� ��������������������������� ������������ ��� ������ ����

the local community. With that we would like to thank the following:

Families - parents, spouses, siblings, children and friends�����������������������������������������������

to plan and prepare this exhibit, and that continue to support their artistic development with kind words

and guidance.

Curators & Organizers�������� ���� ����������������������� ���������o this project.

Mentors�������� �������������� �������������������������� ������ ���������������������

Partners�������� ��� ������������������ ��������������� ����� �� ���� ���������������������������

year. Special thanks to Kathy Mouacheuppao, Center for Hmong Arts & Talent�� ������ ������Portage

for Youth���

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�� ��������� ������������������������������������������� ��

The McKnight Foundation

The Minnesota State Arts Board - Arts In Education Program

The National Endowment for the Arts - Arts In Education Program

The Yackel Foundation

Visitors ��������� ����� ��������������������� ����� ����������������� �����������������������

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