"Among the hmong" - Original artwork

Among the Hmong

Coloured pencil on paper

Arches 640gsm hot pressed

76 x 56cm / 30 x 22in

unframed

Purchased from an elderly Hmong woman in Sa Pa, northern Vietnam, this handmade water buffalo toy caught my eye as I wandered through a small village outside town. Its ultramarine blue horns were impossible to overlook. I knew that if I were to bring home something to remind me of our time here, this was it.

With our time in the region running out, I made one last attempt to find the elderly woman I had briefly encountered the previous day in Ta Van. I returned to the village, hoping to find her, or at least another Hmong woman who might help me track her down or find me a water buffalo of my own.

I didn't find her. She found me, with five minutes to spare before our train back to Ha Noi.

Somehow, our broken-English, Hmong-dialect conversation from the day before had worked. And of all the water buffalo toys she could have brought me, it was the one with the ultramarine blue horns that had caught my eye on our very first day in the region.

Sometimes, the smallest encounters leave the most lasting memories. This is exactly why I make art in this style. Its a form of documentation and story telling.

100% human made. Hand drawn with coloured pencil.

Arrives unframed and carefully flat-packed, ready for you to unveil and enjoy without disturbing the artwork.

If you'd like a framed option please email me once your purchase has been confirmed.