Three Australian sailors greeting the HONG HAI
Artist
Trong Nhon Do
(born 1941)
Date1990
Object numberAX009879
NamePainting
MediumWatercolour on paper
DimensionsImage: 244 x 288 mm
Sheet: 323 x 373 mm
Overall: 323 x 373 mm, 0.003 kg
Sheet: 323 x 373 mm
Overall: 323 x 373 mm, 0.003 kg
Copyright© Trong Nhon Do
ClassificationsArt
Credit LineANMM Collection
DescriptionThis watercolour was painted by Trong Nhon Do, a passenger on HONG HAI. It depicts three Australian sailors in the foreground, greeting refugees on board HONG HAI. HONG HAI was a Vietnamese fishing vessel which carried 38 refugees from Vietnam to Australia in 1978.HistoryTrong Nhon Do was one of 38 refugees who sailed from Vietnam to Australia on the HONG HAI in 1978. HONG HAI departed Kien Giang, Vietnam, on 24 September 1978, and stopped at 12 points, including Malaysia and Indonesia, during its 51 day voyage. HONG HAI was escorted into Darwin, Northern Territory, by a Royal Australian Navy patrol boat on 13 November 1978.
Trong Nhon Do is an artist from South Vietnam, and a refugee from Communist succession in 1975, who was well respected in his own country prior to his escape voyage. Do graduated from the Saigon National College of High Art in 1963 and subsequently received an award and scholarship to Rome's Palazzo delle Esposizione. He returned to Saigon to teach art.
Since arriving in Australia in 1986, Do settled in Cabramatta with his wife and continued to produce free-standing sculptures of religious and wartime fraternity themes.SignificanceThis painting provides visual representation of events that occurred during HONG HAI's voyage from Vietnam to Australia in 1978.
