Words We Carry – Art Print by Bảo Quyên
Words We Carry is an illustration about the things we carry with us – language, culture, memories, traditions, and the stories that connect us to where we come from.
For this illustration, I portrayed a Vietnamese woman walking across a wooden bridge, surrounded by large lotus leaves. Across her shoulders she carries a traditional Vietnamese đòn gánh – a bamboo shoulder pole with baskets suspended from each end, historically used to carry and sell food, produce, flowers, and other goods.
Instead of everyday goods, her baskets are filled with lotus flowers. The lotus is one of the most recognizable symbols associated with Vietnam, often connected with beauty, resilience, and purity.
For me, the image became a visual metaphor for the entire Words We Carry project. Just as she carries the flowers across her shoulders, we carry pieces of our culture with us – through words, memories, values, and traditions passed from one generation to another.
The wooden bridge represents a journey between places, generations, and identities, while the lotus leaves surrounding her create a landscape rooted in Vietnamese symbolism and memory.
Product Details
- Original illustration by Bảo Quyên
- Title artwork from the Words We Carry series
- Printed on high-quality textured paper
- Paper weight: 270 g/m²
