For our project, the flag is our rendition of the South Vietnamese flag. The South Vietnam flag is a yellow flag with three red stripes. The yellow color represents ancestral land and also the color of the Vietnamese. The red color represents the fire of the southern region of Vietnam, such as the bravery and independence within their people. Each stripe represents the separate regions of Vietnam: North, Central, and South.
To produce our flag, we used fabrics to create our rendition. We wanted to keep the basic concept of the original South Vietnamese flag, by leaving the yellow background and red stripe, but we incorporated elements of the U.S. flag by changing the color of the two other stripes and adding an eagle. In our case, the remaining red stripe represents the Northern region of Vietnam that holds the most political power within the country. The blue stripe symbolizes the democracy of the U.S. and Southern Vietnam, while the white stripe is the peace the U.S. wanted to maintain with Vietnam. The eagle hovers above the neutral and democratic zones because the intentions of “Operation Babylift”, discussed in documentary So Close, So Far Away, was to maintain neutrality with Vietnam by transporting the Amerasian children from Vietnam to America. Unfortunately, this operation posed as a political front because once these children came to America, they were faced with many obstacles, such as the discrepancies between being labelled “immigrants” or “refugees”, that made it very difficult for the Amerasians to adapt and assimilate. While the US made many interventions which changed the lives of many Vietnamese people, what actually happened is never mentioned and is basically forgotten.
As artists, we wanted to create an artwork that would offer a different perspective on a topic that does not receive a lot of attention. Along with that, we wanted to use seemingly simple symbols that actually represent something greater that can be interpreted as a whole scenario.
This flag is spectacular! It is a simple design but incorporates very complex issues. It connects beautifully with the Dr. Weiming Dariotis' discussion on war babies and how Europe and the U.S.'s approaches to them carried both pros and cons. Adding why you chose to use fabric for your flag could enhance your artist statement.
ReplyDeleteYour piece really delivers the narrative that is not shown in mainstream. I especially appreciate the meaning of the eagle because I also interpreted something differently. I think your statement is clear of your intentions and bring in well with the selected resource in class.
ReplyDeleteGreat job in putting your flag together. It has a very clean texture and the colors are well define. I like how the artist statement carefully explain the meaning behind each part that was used and that everything about the flag has something behind it. This is a well done flag. I don't think it needs any improvement.
ReplyDeleteSomething new. It is a different take between the Vietnamese and U.S. relationships. By incorporating the colors of the South Vietnamese flag and that of the United States, your group made it seem as though there is this mending bond/relationship between the two nations. This was presented through your example of Operation Babylift. Additionally, your group stated that the white stripe was to represent the peace the U.S. wanted to keep with Vietnam, I would have loved for your group to elaborate on this more through your example of Operation Babylift. Your group addressed that this operation was not as successful as it should have been due to political issues, I would have loved to have seen that more in your flag. Nevertheless, the overall idea and visual is well done.
ReplyDeleteInteresting that you include central Vietnam in your piece. Usually there's just talk about north and south (and I wasn't even aware a central Vietnam existed prior to seeing this), so thank you for calling attention to that. Wonderfully done and I like that it's a physical design. I like how you used the eagle to represent the "flight" of Vietnamese refugees and war children to America.
ReplyDeleteI like how you decided to touch on a subject that wasn't talked about too much, but still a very important subject we should all be aware of. Your statement was very informative and felt like I was reading a book, so interesting! No need for improvement, and great job on the flag!
ReplyDeleteThe piece is very detail-oriented and reflects the theme of this week well. Personally, I thought how the artists incorporate the U.S.' elements into the Vietnamese flag before 1975 to show the tension between the two countries during the Vietnam War is well thought out. The artist statement further delves into the struggles faced by many war babies when they first came to the U.S.
ReplyDeletei think this flag is great! It's simple but it incorporates very complex issues. I really appreciated how the artist statement explained the meaning behind the colors and the eagle. Also, I think that touching upon a topic that is not really discussed is a great idea to bring awareness to those issues. Overall, great work!
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed how the flag is built upon two existing flags and creating new peaceful meaning out of it. I enjoyed how each elements in the flag has multiple meanings as well. The eagle representing US and the refugee and children in Vietnam was very interesting, since American to them is a form of reaching to the freedom. I also enjoyed that the fabric had special meaning hidden as well. The artist statement is very well written and fully explain what the flag is trying to illustrate. Very well considered art piece.
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ReplyDeleteVery intriguing piece. First off, I had to recall what the Vietnam flag was like. Once I remembered, I can see the fusion of the Vietnam flag and the U.S. incorporated into one and you're piece is definitely a good result. Your artist statement clarified any questions about the significance of the colors each stripe is. I'm glad to see the geographical ties your flag has as well as the inspiration from "operation babylift". Great job!!
ReplyDeleteI thought your flag was simple yet strong. A great combination of Vietnam and U.S. The artist statement does a good job explaining what each symbol means. Overall a good piece.
ReplyDeleteThe flag's visuals are very clear and appealing, and the artist statement elaborates the meaning of the flag. I recommend taking an alternative angle and critical approach to how Southern Vietnamese refugees and their gratefulness to the US acts as a supporting pillar or rhetorical justification for US imperialism overseas. Please read Dr. Yen Le Espiritu's work on critical refugee studies.
ReplyDeleteI like how this flag is very simple but meaningful! It’s definitely a different take on the U.S.-Vietnam relation and the mixed-race experience. I also appreciate how you put the effort to create the flag out of fabrics. I personally would elaborate a little more in the artist statement about Operation Babylift because not many know about it. But other than that, Good job!
ReplyDeleteAnother simple yet powerful design of a flag. The artists have explained thoroughly the aesthetics of the design. The artists have well incorporated concepts from the documentary So Far, So Close Away by including meaningful placement and coloring of the stripe. Overall, great art work!
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