October 24, 2024 IN: Community Stories
50th Anniversary Fundraiser: Holding onto culture through art with HNin Nie
Photo courtesy of HNin Nie.
HNin Nie is a multidisciplinary artist in Charlotte, North Carolina with an associate’s degree in Fine Arts from Central Piedmont Community College. HNin’s primary focuses are painting and sculpture, however, her work draws inspiration from illustration, blending animation and text to tell stories. HNin’s art is a reflection of her experiences as an Asian woman in America, which she distills into playful palettes and relatable stories. Learn more at www.hninnie.com.
Tell us a little about yourself! Who is your family/community, where are you located, what kind of art do you do?
My name is HNin Nie (the H lets you know that I am Montagnard Dega), and I was born in Vietnam. I speak Rade, apparently very street and informal Rade. I am a multidisciplinary artist residing in Charlotte, NC. I graduated with an associate’s degree in fine arts from Central Piedmont Community College, and my current focuses are painting and sculpture. This has been my second year painting murals, but I have painted since I was a kid and couldn’t stop. I am currently working on a series called ‘Cherry Gaze.’
Cherry Gaze is a series of characters that embodies fruitful women, sometimes unknowing of a disquieting gaze. In comparison to my own experience of womanhood, I aim to humanize a fruit that is usually objectified, by reclaiming its existence.
What does the 50th anniversary of Southeast Asian American refugee resettlement mean to you?
Photo courtesy of HNin Nie.
The 50th anniversary of Southeast Asian American refugee settlement means a chance at a new life. In 1992, I was born in Vietnam, then plopped in America at the ripe age of 2 months. I don’t remember anything except hearing about the struggles for Montagnard people living in Vietnam post war. My family’s American sponsors, Mama Jo and Daddy Harry, played a pivotal role in our adjustment to America. They helped my parents get jobs and navigate the American system. We resettled in a neighborhood built for Montagnard people, which I think was really important for our people so that the culture shock can be less confusing and scary when you’re surrounded by your tribe.
What organization are you supporting with this fundraiser, and why does their work speak to you?
I would like to support SEAC Village. They are an active grassroots social justice organization that are on the frontlines of so many protests and issues that I’ve seen in Charlotte. Their work speaks to me because their activism is intersectional, aiding and providing for the Southeast Asian community, but also Black, Indigenous, and LGBTQIA+. Recently during the Western North Carolina disaster, I witnessed how quickly they took action to donate, and I’d love to support the people who support!
Photo courtesy of HNin Nie.
What do you hope for Southeast Asian American communities for the next 50 years?
At 32, I am still learning about Southeast Asia. My hope for the Southeast Asian American communities within the next 50 years is that we still hold onto our culture. The Montagnard tribe is small, and I would love to see more of our history preserved, shared, and easily accessible to learn about. I would also like to see more education in the early years of learning about the Southeast Asian community.
Statement about the fundraiser piece: My ethnicity is Montagnard Dega and in this design, I was inspired by the landscape of Vietnam’s central highlands. I incorporated the North Star because indigenous tribes relate to them. In the top circle, the girl is gazing at where the North Star is going. In the bottom illustration, the bright yellow light is where the North Star landed, which is her home in America. I was a refugee baby and I am grateful to be in America. I wanted to show that culture is not lost after resettling. My mom has kept her green thumb and maintains a beautiful garden that grows food from our culture. I am grateful that my mom has kept the culture alive through her garden. In the illustration, the flower is the plant that travels with the girl.
