VMHS Legacy Project
2023HD video, stereo sound, with subtitles
16 mins 34 secs
Vietnamese Northern Lullaby (Ru con miền bắc) sung by: Koa Pham
Sound design: Rob Szeliga
Vietnamese translation: Mai-Thi Nguyen
With thanks for helping at the Reimagining Workshop: Amie Tran and Amie’s Brother, Chip, Thao, Thao Khuat, Dr Lili Ly, Dr Angela Bryne, Jack Shieh OBE, Quynh Nguyen, Beatrix Pang.
Commissioned by the Vietnamese Mental Health Services (VMHS) to coincide with the closure of the organisation.
This film explores the history and legacy of the VMHS, a mental health charity set up in 1989 in the UK for Vietnamese communities, weaving interviews with service users and director, Jack Shieh OBE.
The film was made to be screened at the Vietnamese Mental Health Services 35th Anniversary and Farewell Party on Friday 15th September 2023 and VMHS website. It was screened again at the ‘Reimagining Vietnamese Mental Health Workshop’ at the Vietnamese Mental Health Services and Downside Fisher Youth Club on Sunday 1st October 2023 followed by an in conversation with Jack Shieh, Lili Ly, Angela Bryne, Will Pham and Mai-Thi Nguyen. The audiences were invited to take part in a version of ‘Recipes of Life’ workshop over hot pot and the day ended with a reading from ‘Duc Van Minh’, a book project made in collaboraion with Beatrix Pang.
Pham was invited to contribute the full transcipt of the film with image stills as part of ‘How to Sleep Faster Issue 14: Mental Health and Art in Crisis’ edited by Maggie Matić and published by Arcadia Missa Press 2014:
https://arcadiamissa.com/product/how-to-sleep-faster-14/
Film stills
Film screening at the
Vietnamese Mental Health Services 35th Anniversary and Farewell Party on Friday 15th September 2023
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Reimagining Vietnamese Mental Health Workshop at the Vietnamese Mental Health Services and Downside Fisher Youth Club on Sunday 1st October 2023
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Excerpts from ‘How to Sleep Faster- Issue 14- Art and Mental Health in Crisis’ edited by Maggie Matić, published by Arcadia Missa Press. Available to buy in all art gallery shops and book launch at Arcadia Missa Gallery on Saturday 10th February 2024 from 2pm-4pm with readings.
Reimagining Vietnamese Mental Health Workshop at the Vietnamese Mental Health Services and Downside Fisher Youth Club on Sunday 1st October 2023
Excerpts from ‘How to Sleep Faster- Issue 14- Art and Mental Health in Crisis’ edited by Maggie Matić, published by Arcadia Missa Press. Available to buy in all art gallery shops and book launch at Arcadia Missa Gallery on Saturday 10th February 2024 from 2pm-4pm with readings.