Tra My Nguyen

Tra My Nguyen is a Berlin-based visual artist whose multidisciplinary practice encompasses sculpture, moving image, and textile. Drawing upon diaspora perspectives, her work re-contextualizes material culture within global modernism. Nguyen’s practice engages with speculative narratives to explore the intersection of gender, labor, migration, and technology within the current neoliberal order.

Her work has been exhibited internationally, including at the 4th Edition of Bienalsur in La Plata (AR), Bundeskunsthalle Bonn (DE), Human Resources in Los Angeles (US), the State of Fashion Biennial in Arnhem (NL), and VCCA in Hanoi (VN). 

During the residency, Nguyen will explore the significance, symbolism, and socio-cultural impact of plastic in Asia, particularly among Asian diaspora communities. Drawing on Plastic Asia: Material Ambiguities and Cultural Imaginaries by Saskia Abrahms-Kavunenko and Trine Brox (2022), the project Crafting Ambiguities investigates the interplay between modernity, waste colonialism, migration, and plastic production. While at Rupert, she will conduct research on the project and create prototypes of the sculptures.

Images: Photo by Javier de la Blanca (above); Using one’s feet has become an option of last resort II, 2019/2023, photo by Max Eulitz (below)