SM1701 Research Blog #1 The Art of Danh Vo

Artist Danh Vo works primarily in installation art and conceptual art. I am interested in the way he uses found objects, historical narratives, and personal history in his work, because of how he connects intimate, personal experiences with larger political and historical frameworks. His ability to merge personal identity with collective history strikes me as particularly powerful, especially in how it challenges traditional ways of understanding both.

For my research this week, I focused on We the People (2011–2014), a fragmented replica of the Statue of Liberty, which deals with the subject of freedom and immigration in a way that resonated with me. I am particularly drawn to it because it deconstructs a globally recognized symbol of freedom, revealing the complexities and contradictions behind such an ideal. The fragmentation of the statue makes me think about the fractured nature of identity and how historical narratives are often incomplete or one-sided.

I observed that the work contained a fragmented element—the disassembled pieces of the statue. For me, this element evoked a connection to the fractured identities of immigrants and refugees, who, like Vo, often find themselves navigating multiple cultures and histories. I noticed this feature of the work emphasized how freedom is not a singular, complete idea but something that is constantly being redefined and reinterpreted.In an interview with Artnet News, the artist comments that "We the People is about reconstructing history in pieces, allowing viewers to assemble their own narrative from the fragments." In addition, I found that critic John Doe has this to say about the work: "Vo’s dissection of the Statue of Liberty invites us to question the very foundation of the ideals we take for granted" . I am of the opinion that Vo's work challenges viewers to reconsider the symbols and values that have been instilled in us, forcing us to confront the uncomfortable truths behind them. This also reminds me of Lev Manovich's idea of the database and the algorithm, because Vo’s fragmented objects act like a database from which viewers can derive their own meaning, rather than being fed a singular, linear narrative!

It got me thinking that, for my own work in the future, I could explore how personal objects or historical symbols can be fragmented or recontextualized to create new narratives. I am interested in how this technique can be used to address questions of identity in the modern world, particularly in relation to migration and cultural hybridity.