Phuong Thao Nguyen: Contemporary Visual Artist and Filmmaker

Phuong Thao Nguyen is a Hanoi-born artist and filmmaker currently based in Paris, whose creative practice centers on the intersections of memory, identity, and migration. Her work meticulously follows the trails of people, traditions, and objects across diverse cultural and political borders, situating individual narratives within the broader currents of history. This thematic focus is evident in her cinematic projects, such as "First Light," which premiered at Cinéma du Réel in 2025, and "The Longest Night," a film shot during a powerful typhoon in Hanoi. In addition to filmmaking, Phuong Thao Nguyen is recognized for her evocative video installations and mixed-media works. Pieces like "Don't Move" (2023), "touch-me-not" (2021), and "Ungemach" explore tactile and visual archives, often questioning the nature of surveillance and the preservation of intimacy across geographic distances. Her research-based projects, including "The Things They Carry," examine the physical and emotional weight of objects transported by migrants, building a complex network of stories that reflect contemporary global movement. Having studied at the Haute école des arts du Rhin (HEAR), her multi-disciplinary approach bridges traditional documentary techniques with experimental video art and performance. Phuong Thao Nguyen continues to exhibit and screen her work internationally, with notable participation in events such as 100% l'EXPO at la Villette and exhibitions in cities including Athens, Osaka, and Moscow. Her practice remains dedicated to creating a scattered portrait of the human experience through the lens of movement and time.