When I lived in Vietnam I was in a much different (much darker) place than I am now. And though it’s been four years since that part of my life has ended, I have never really touched on it artistically. I made some really bad decisions in Vietnam, all of which ultimately led to the worst state my mental health had ever been in. But what I distinctly remember are these little moments of clarity which I firmly believe, kept me from being tipped over the edge.
This four-page story titled Việt Nam Muôn Năm (Viva Vietnam) visualises one of those ‘moments’ - the day when Vietnam played (and lost) to Uzbekistan in the U23 Asian Cup Final. Without spoiling the comic for you, it follows a teacher (me) as he deals with the mundane and mentally painful routine he’s sculpted for himself in the midst of a mental breakdown. But one day he is exposed to the contagious positivity of the Vietnamese people in a time of celebration and unity and for a moment feels utter ‘clarity’ and - rather unexpectedly - joy.
