Hiền Hoàng wins Foam Paul Huf Award 2024

As seen in past editions, a jury of five industry specialists reviewed more than 100 submissions of artists, who had been brought forward by 24 international nominators. Hiền Hoàng was nominated by art researcher and independent curator Aldeide Delgado and is the first Foam Paul Huf Award winner from Southeast Asia.

“We are impressed by the outstanding work of Hiền Hoàng whose practice displays a powerful and innovative visual language. She explores cultural narratives, such as the relationship between humanity and nature and the role of identity. For the series Asia Bistro – Made in Rice Hoàng uses food symbolism and unconventional surfaces to demonstrate the stereotypes that exist in Western narratives with regards to Asian culture. The work provides a sensory experience. Hoàng’s surprising installations, use of diverse media and layered visual aesthetic made her work stand out from the beginning. Her photographs escape from the static moment of a flat surface to a freely flowing moment, emitting emotions and gaining the power of connection. In doing so, Hoàng’s work bridges the gap between reality and imagination, building layers of diversive meanings.”

The jury extends a special mention to the Australian-Iranian artist Hoda Afshar whose work pushes the boundaries of where documentary and conceptual photography intersect. The jury particularly highlights her project In Turn which refers to the ongoing women’s rights protests in Iran.

Hiền Hoàng says: "I am deeply honored to receive this award, which recognizes and affirms my exploration of cultural identity, human-nature interactions, and societal narratives. Asia Bistro - Made in Rice (2019-2021) dissected stereotypes faced by Vietnamese and Asian immigrants in the West, utilizing food symbolism and performance. This work challenged perceptions of ‘foreignness’ and ‘exoticness’, examining the traumatic experiences and coping mechanisms immigrants use to integrate into society. Following this, Scent from Heaven, completed in late 2023, delved into the relationship between humanity and nature, focusing on the culturally significant Agarwood from Vietnam. This project explored how pain and value are perceived and manifested through its history and usage. Currently, positioned at the intersection of art and science, my work investigates the narratives and memories associated with nature. This award inspires me to deepen my explorations, pushing further into these complex themes.”