Pulp (Fragmented)
Artist description:
Pulp (Fragmented) and Séance (Dinner Theatre) were created after my family trip to Vietnam. It was my first time there and my parents’ first time back since they left in the 1980s due to the Vietnam War.
Pulp (Fragmented)’s imagery is taken from a photo I took on the first day at a market. I love insects, and would like more people to be able to appreciate how necessary they are to the health of our environment. Fish is a consistent theme in my work. This fish obsession was sparked by a photo series called Metamorphosis (2006) by Yoon Jinyoung, a South Korean photographer. It consists of thirteen high contrast photos of fish heads, guts, and other ‘unwanted’ cuts. For me, it’s a symbol of perseverance and resourcefulness: even the most unwanted cuts of meat can be transformed into something delicious and nourishing. It’s about making the most of what you have.
Insects have also been playing a larger role in the subject of my work. When we think of intelligence, rarely do we think of insects, but the social networks and ability to organize so effectively makes them more than worthy of being deemed as such. I chose the lunar moth initially because I liked the contrast of the green with the pink, but it’s worth noting that these particular moths do not have a mouth or a digestive system. They only live for a week once they emerge from their cocoons, and their only objective is to mate. I imagine the moths in the painting trying desperately to eat, to no avail. The insects, in contrast with the fish, are a reminder that where there is death, there is also life.
- Michelle Nguyen, 2024
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Canadian painter Michelle Nguyen is known for her richly detailed, allegorical compositions that explore themes of identity, mythology, and historical erasure. Her paintings are populated by human and animal figures in shifting, often surreal states, at times elegant, humorous, or grotesque, set within dreamlike environments that balance beauty with unease. Working primarily in oil and pastel, Nguyen builds dense, immersive worlds layered with symbolism, narrative, and art historical references.
Drawing from classical motifs, literature, and mythology, Nguyen’s compositions evoke a space between dream and nightmare, where meaning remains fluid and open to interpretation. Her expressive use of colour, combined with gestural mark-making and intricate detail, creates visually arresting works that reward sustained viewing.
Born in Toronto and now based in Montreal, Nguyen received her undergraduate degree in Environmental Design from the University of British Columbia in 2016, and is currently pursuing her Masters of Fine Art at Concordia University in Montreal. Her work has been exhibited in Canada and internationally, including in New York and London.
