The symbolic significance of Ho Chi Minh for Vietnam’s nationalist leadership cannot be overstated. He acts as a potent instrument for upholding the ideals and tenets of the Vietnamese Communist Party, instilling in the country a sense of patriotism and allegiance.

The Monuments is an exploration of the ephemeral nature of memory within the public and personal realms. Set against the backdrop of Vietnamese history and cultural heritage, this work interrogates the relationship between the architectures of Hồ Chí Minh monuments—symbols of collective memory—and us, the individuals who interact with them.

At the heart of the project lies the statues of President Hồ Chí Minh scattered across Vietnam. The statues’ solemn and revered presence represents a unified historical narrative and ideology, but at the same time, it reflects the fluidity of the meanings and purposes ascribed to them.

The project invites a reexamination of how we engage with history and its physical embodiments, reflecting on how the collective memory imposed by these monuments often overshadows individual narratives. Monuments are often erected to glorify and commemorate, but as time passes, they become relics not only of the past but also of how we have constructed and reconstructed the dominant narratives.

This photographic project focuses on the many Ho Chi Minh statues in public, which have served as gathering and worshipping sites for the general populace.