The University of Michigan’s Institute for the Humanities opened their new exhibit “Angkorian Homecoming” March 20, exploring Cambodian and Vietnamese experiences of immigration, assimilation and settling in the United States. Through her art, Cambodian refugee and artist Phung Huynh reflects on her experiences as an immigrant through prints and drawings.
The prints and drawings lie on pink donut boxes, a reflection of the fact 80% of donut shops in California are owned by Cambodian immigrants. The drawings are recreations of portrait photos sent to sponsors, Americans who finance refugees to come to the U.S.
LSA senior Lucian Van Fleet, an intern for the Public Humanities Internship Program, helped organize events associated with the exhibition, including a Cambodian dance workshop. In an interview with The Michigan Daily, Van Fleet said while the Cambodian genocide from 1975 to 1979 had a significant impact on immigrants and was honored in the exhibit, the events were hosted to highlight Cambodia’s culture and society.
“It was less about the genocide, although that certainly had an impact,” Van Fleet said. “Despite this giant stain on the history of Cambodia, we can still celebrate its culture and not feel guilty about it.”
Van Fleet also discussed other events, especially “DJ and Donuts Dance Party.” The event, attended by dozens of people, celebrated Huynh and the artwork with donuts, refreshments and a night of dancing.
“We had people dancing for the full two hours,” Van Fleet said. “It was beautiful, wonderful then.”
Amanda Krugliak, arts curator and assistant director of arts programming for the Institute, collaborated with Huynh, students and other curators to put together the exhibition. Krugliak told The Daily what it was like collaborating with the institute and said the exhibit was an important reminder of the United States’ involvement in the genocide.
“It’s the 50th anniversary of that genocide,” Krugliak said. “It’s not taught very much in the United States, in part because of the United States’ role in so many things that were happening in Asia at the time. (The exhibit) reminds you of what we’re taught, the stories that are told at different points of time depending on the administration.”
Huynh’s personal experiences as an immigrant and artist are centered within the exhibit. Krugliak said she valued the experience of collaborating with Huynh.
“She’s incredibly generous and worked with students and (was) very trusting of me as a curator,” Krugliak said. “It felt rich in a collaborative way to work with this particular artist.”
LSA sophomore Luke Dindo, exhibit attendee, told The Daily she appreciated how each piece in the exhibit had a story.
“The murals and exhibits, like statues, are not just there for eye pleasure,” Dindo said. “They have rich histories and stories to tell behind these photos of people, and we should get to know more about it.”
Krugliak said it is important to tell these stories alongside the changing political climate today.
“To be in a moment where we’re having questions about people being deported or arrested, it felt like it was exactly a show to remind us of what the American story is,” Krugliak said. “The American story is all of our stories.”
Daily Staff Reporter Meghan Dwan can be reached at mkdwan@umich.edu.
