Cy Thao
Cy Thao
Painter, Politician (1972-)
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"I want the series to educate the younger generation, to have some closure with the generation that went through the war and hopefully become a historical document for generations to come."
"I want the series to educate the younger generation, to have some closure with the generation that went through the war and hopefully become a historical document for generations to come."
Cy Thao is a Hmong politician and painter who was born in Laos but fled with his family to Thailand where he lived in a refugee camp until moving to the St. Paul, Minnesota. That served as a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives from 2002-2011. He was only the second Hmong state legislator in the country.
Thao painted 50 canvas to create a narrative of the entire history of the Hmong people from China to Laos and the Vietnam War, to refugee camps and to the United States.
"The images and the stories are so depressing, so sad, that I think if I choose a different color, or a color that fits the story a little bit more, the tone of the story, I think, it would be too hard"
Interview with Minnesota Public Radio
Connection to the Classroom
Thao's work can easily be tied into a history lesson but also provides local examples of immigrant artists many students will find relatable.
Further Reading
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| Published in 2002 |