Karen Thảo La

Image: Portrait of Karen Thảo La

Karen Thảo La is a Vietnamese-Canadian interdisciplinary artist and cultural producer based on the unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations, with winding roots from Sài Gòn to Cà Mau. Her practice explores collective memory, folklore, and the space between languages. Guided by a care-based ethos, she creates accessible, community-driven art projects and initiatives, with an emphasis on youth participation, including the Vòng Vòng event series, which fosters diasporic (re)connection and cultural exchange. She holds a BFA from UBC and is committed to ongoing un/learning and pursuing in/formal embodied experiences, near and far.

Thảo’s residency evolved organically to adapt to her limited time and to take advantage of opportunities that arose during her stay. Upon arriving at AirHue, she decided to temporarily set aside her initial research plan and instead immerse herself in the landscape and community of Trúc Lâm village. To capture the essence of these connections, Thảo organized a workshop titled Tangled Dreams: A Textile Sculpture Adventure, in collaboration with the village children.

Images from Thảo’s workshop Tangled Dreams: A Textile Sculpture Adventure