A cairn for the ancient ones

“Even the Gods Need to Know They’re Not Alone,” 2025
ceramic, glaze
11 × 8 × 7.5 in

The Desert Buddha rises from the Mojave, born from the arid landscape of a vast, forgotten temple. Shaped by the dirt, its texture reflects the land’s rough, exposed surfaces. It is not a figure removed from its environment but one that shares its fate with the desert.

When the buddhas arrived in the desert, the earth trembled with longing, and the poppies, golden and wild, sprung forth wherever their feet pressed the dust.

The figures in this sculpture emerge without blueprint. Far from Vietnam, our ancestors have nonetheless traveled with us. No longer bound to their land of origin, their forms have been reshaped by the journey. Their presence is felt in the boulders that rise like gods. Their watchful eyes, altered by time and distance, survey not in judgment, but with steady protection.

Bá Ngoại (Vietnamese) refers to a maternal grandmother. This functional sculpture draws from the matriarchal aspects of Vietnamese culture. Though the figure it represents is no longer with us, she remains a lasting presence. Bà Ngoại commands attention, silently asking for prayers, much like those offered to ancestors when entering a home.

The attachments on this vessel suggest movement. In the desert, time is measured by moonlight, as the sun’s harshness makes it impossible to track the day. This vessel acts as a marker, its form reflecting the rhythm of an environment where light is unyielding, and the desert’s pulse is felt only in the cool of the night.