You’re invited.
“Plhis: Poetry Reimagined Through Art” is a collaborative exhibit between literary artist Pa N. Vue and multimedia artist Maivzeb Lauj. This project explores how poetic works can “plhis” or “be transformed” from their original textual and aural form and emerge reimagined through multimedia and multimodal visual expressions. “Plhis” evokes the essence of transformation and rebirth, reflecting how meaning shifts, evolves, and finds new life when moving between artistic languages. Maivzeb will select poems from Pa’s collection Sawv Tsees Rov Hlo Los and re-present them as immersive multimodal art forms using multiple forms of media, including digital, textile, and paper.
This poem retells the tale of Sun and Moon’s star-crossed love in paj huam form. Paj huam is a traditional Hmong poetic structure with seven syllable lines and an AA BB CC rhyme scheme. Rhyming occurs in the seventh syllable of the initial line and the third syllable of the second line. Unlike western couplets, the second line and subsequent even lines in paj huam serve as a connecting line.
“Nkauj Hnub thiab Nraug Hli” explores a universal theme through cosmic separation and longing. Visit the exhibition in person for an immersive multimedia experience of this piece that includes music and the poet’s voice reading the poem.
The exhibition will be showing at the Museum of Northern California Art (monca), just a short drive north of Sacramento, and will showcase 10 to 12 interactive pieces depending on space available.
Contact Pa N. Vue at hmonglanguagemovement@gmail.com with any questions.