“Gleaning from the natural world, Linh VH Nguyen constructs images that anthropomorphize flora debris into distinct characters, which are playful, sincere and celebratory.”

— Jennifer Simaitis, Director of Patel Brown, Toronto (TOAF newsletter May 18th 2023)

we listen to the drums

our limbs lift and twist

re-forming with the rhythm - bliss

worthlessness - dispelled

we reanimate ourselves, bouncing

to the beat felt during stillness

dandelion dancers

This series is based on my experiences of reconnecting to my body and sense of self through the practice of dance. The moments of complete stillness and joy, while in motion, helped me somatically release trauma and reconstruct my self image.

Each figure was constructed using dried weeds and floral debris which would have been discarded. The repurposing of these physical materials calls into question the importance of our own perceptions in regards to beauty, value judgements, and how we look at future possibilities.