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“Pipe Dreams," 2023

We all know what a pipe dream is. It’s an unattainable hope, plan, or dream. I named this piece “Pipe Dreams” as a pun as she smokes from a pipe, but to also express how addiction is a lonely road that leads you down a dark path—and all we can do is hope to overcome.

I’m drawn to the cultural significance of opium in the context within my Hmong community. I personally know people with an opium addiction, and it pains me to see them with this illness.

As an artist, I wanted to explore the multifaceted nature of the relationship between the Hmong people and opium in this piece. It is clear that this is a Hmong woman in Hmong Xuav (Chinese) clothing. I dressed her in this particular cultural wear based on the history of how opium became one of Hmong people’s cash crop. It was a valuable trade in China and the Hmong were one of the groups to cultivate it in exchange for silver. I wanted to create a piece focusing on cultural, social, and historical nuances of opium use, as well as acknowledging the potential harms and challenges associated with it. By doing so, I created a depiction that goes beyond surface-level glamorization in efforts to spark a conversation that could delve into deeper conversations about the complexities of this topic.

About Art Prints:

OPTION 1: Printed on 8x10 or 11x14

Note that all prints are shipped unframed.

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