An Chung: Loving in Vietnamese by Nessa Nguyễn
This piece was featured in the February 2024 issue of The Fore Edge, a quarterly newsletter from MCBA that highlights new artist’s books and zines for collections, universities, and libraries. If you are interested in receiving this newsletter, there is a sign up available here. Past featured pieces can be viewed here.
“‘Ăn chung’ is Vietnamese for ‘eat together.’ Have you ever cooked for someone you love? Attended a potluck and tried your friends’ dishes that they made themselves? That’s what ăn chung is all about. It’s about love expressed through communal eating, the act of sharing a meal and a story. More importantly, it’s the intimate gesture of making sure your loved ones are fed. This is a cookbook of 10 Vietnamese recipes paired with stories of when I’ve shared them with my loved ones. These stories range from heartbreak, joy, and even grief. Ăn Chung is love, family, and tenderness.” - Nessa Nguyễn
8” x 8”
*Consignment item. Not eligible for 10% membership discount. All consignment purchases are final and non-refundable once shipped.
Vanessa “Nessa” Nguyễn (she/her) is a Vietnamese-American illustrator & designer born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. Nessa’s work focuses on their Vietnamese upbringing and how we can bond cross-culturally over food, cheeky designs, intergenerational healing, and self-awareness. By staying true to their personal journey growing up in a first-generation immigrant household, Nessa’s relatable storytelling inspires us to be real with ourselves and each other by exploring themes of diaspora, playfulness, and vulnerability. In their spare time, they can be found scouring Chinatown for the tastiest dumpling deals.
