Mekong

by Low Saelee

Many Mien lives were lost while crossing the Mekong river in their attempts to escape from the threat of death and persecution.

The Lotus flower is regarded in many different cultures, especially in Asian religions, as a symbol of purity, enlightenment, self-regeneration and rebirth.

The hand represents the spirit of the lives lost in the Mekong river while escaping.

The red thread, decorated with colorful beads is referenced from my grandma’s beadwork from a baby’s hat she hand-sowed years ago. It’s shown broken to represent the changes and challenges that families would have to endure and the unknown they would have to adapt to.

I wanted to make a piece to represent the struggles and lives lost while escaping persecution