[ Publication | About Me | Exlibition | Sculptures | Dramatic | Books | Introduction]
PUBLICATION
Two New Books Reveal One
Man’s True Experiences as Immigrant, Artist and Political prisoner F rom October 13 to November 12, 1998, Mr. Bright Quang had been
exhibiting five of his sculptures and his book of Poetry & Art at Canada
College, under the sponsorship of his Canada College. The sculptor’s Guilds
of Half Moon Bay and Belmont, California, together are sponsoring a display
of “Today, Studying; Tomorrow, Growing Up” at State of Florida and the
University of Chicago. It might have been there October 15, 1998 until
October 15, 2000.
Redwood City, California- Those who dare to take a stand and act on their
beliefs often find themselves in a lonely place, subjected to ridicule and
persecution. Bright has traveled that road for most of his life, from his
war-torn homeland of Vietnam to the shores of America. He shares his remarkable
story and unique views on life in two books: Road to the United States Part I
and Part 2 (both available through Author-house).
“I have forgiven others
often, but I have never forgiven myself,” writes Quang. His books chronicle more
than 50 years of hardships suffered as a result of war and hated of others. At
the same time, they deliver thought-provoking ideological views and predictions
of a future America that Quang has gathered from his observations of political,
economic and sociological factors in a rapidly changing world.
Quang
relates his early education and artistic training, and mixed with these
anecdotes are horrifying accounts of his family’s brush with communist spies and
his own experience as a political prisoner. After living in Saigon in the 1980
s, Quang “inched toward escape,” eventually making his way to the United States.
Along the way, he recorded his observations and distilled these into stories and
poetry.
The concluding chapters of this two-part series address his
decision to come to the United States and the opportunities and future struggles
he faced. Quang also includes and analysis of many facets of American life and
predictions for the fate of the country.
Historical background, social
and political analysis and guidelines on how to live a virtuous life all await
readers’ discovery in two intriguing books: Road to the Unites States part I and
Part 2.
Bright Quang is the pen name for Nguyen Xuan Quang. Born in Quang
Ngai City, Vietnam, he immigrated to America in 1993 under the Humanitarian
Operation program. He graduated from Hue College of Arts in Hue City, Vietnam,
and later, from the University of Police in Saigon. He earned an associate’s
degree in art at Canada College in Redwood City, Calif., and a bachelor’s degree
from California State University in Hayward. An award-winning poet and artist,
he has exhibited in galleries throughout the United States. He has previously
published books in both English and Vietnamese, and the titles include Poetry &
Art.
In Witness of the Vietnam War
His book
is published by PublishAmerica company in the United States of America.
Hayward Art Council
Member From Vietnam Will Read His Poetry In the fall of 1998, looking at destruction of two United States
Embassies caused by terrorists, the sculptor created yet another work and
named it “Control”. Constructed with a steel frame, granite, sand and
cement, it speaks eloquently of his feelings. The figure shows the earth
held in two fingers, only love controls the future. Mr. Bright Quang dreams
of his world where everywhere there is no hatred, suppression, violence or
destruction by war, a world of love for all people on earth where everyone
can live peacefully, without hatred or suppression.
By : Emma Krasov : 7/12/06
Emma Krasov
City Editor,
Castro Valley Forum weekly
3742 Castro
Valley Blvd.
Castro Valley, CA 94546
510-940-2366
emmak@ebpublishing.com
Bright Quang, an artist, author of two
books and a poet will present his poetry at the Green Shutter Art Gallery
next week. “Those who dare to take a stand and act on their beliefs often
find themselves in a lonely place, subjected to ridicule and persecution.
Bright Quang has traveled that road for most of his life, from his war-torn
homeland of Vietnam to the shores of America,” wrote Winnie Thompson, a CV
resident and the president of Diablo/Alameda Branch of Pen Women.
Bright
Quang, whose full name is Nguyen Xuan Quang, was born in 1948, in Vietnam.
From 1965 to 1973, the Vietnamese Civil War had taken the lives of his
father and his four brothers.
“I felt like a fish out of water and like
a lost dog that was wandering in the market of the war without pity,” said
Quang about that time.
According to Quang, when he saw the Vietnamese
people suffering from war and crime, he reluctantly became a Vietnamese spy,
working with the police intelligence center in Quang Ngai City, and the CIA.
In 1966, he was inserted into the Vietnamese Communist zone. In 1971, he
opened his art studio in Quangngai City, and in 1973 enrolled in the Police
University in Saigon.
Meanwhile, he became a lieutenant of South Vietnamese government, and in
1975 was sent to the Vietnamese communist concentration camps through 1981.
In 1981 he escaped to Saigon (Ho Chi Minh), where his wife and children
joined him in 1985.
At that time, Quang created a bronze sculpture he
named “Peace,” depicting a nude male with a broken AK47 rifle.
“This work
symbolizes a Vietnamese who loves peace, and refuses to fight for the
communist cause,” said Quang
When the sculpture was proposed to a
committee of art in Saigon, one of the committee members commented, “The
young man broke the Soviet-made rifle instead of breaking the American M-16
rifle.” The committee rejected Quang’s proposal.
In 1993, the author, as
a former prisoner of conscience, was allowed to migrate to the United
States. He carried the statue with him to the airport. The communist
security officer at the Tan Son Nhat airport did not allow him to take it
out of the country.
“Humanity is crushed under the communist dream,”
wrote Quang in his poem, “My Pen.”
In 2003, Quang received his Bachelor
of Art Degree at Cal State East Bay, and was exhibiting his artwork at
numerous solo and group art shows.
Among his honors and awards there is a
letter from President Bill Clinton, International Poet of Merit Silver Award
Bowl, given in 2001 by Poetry.com, and Editor’s Choice Award by Poetry.com
and the International Library of Poetry.
Quang is currently a member in
good standing of the International Society of Poets, and the Hayward Arts
Council, which is pleased to feature his free poetry reading on Saturday,
July 22, at 4 p.m. in the Green Shutter Gallery.
Green Shutter Gallery
is located at 22654 Main Street, Hayward, CA 94541. 538-2787.