The NAga Queen

The Naga Queen is inspired by the evolution of a previous project I worked on called, Union, with a collective called, Nagagheng. This traditional Cambodian folklore talks about the King of the Naga tribes daughter, prophesied to marry a foreigner and unite the land. After she marries him, she becomes queen and she’s then known to be the mother of all people in the Southeast Asian peninsula and the mother of all Cambodian people. I worked on the princess portion of the collaboration, depicting the naga princess before her union. This dragon head is her evolution into a queen, mother, and protector.

Coming from a community that is most remembered for surviving our genocide, I offer her creation as a prayer for the freedom, justice, and safety of the Palestinian people. From our river to their river, from our sea to their sea may the spirit of our aboriginal mother help aid in your freedom as it ties with ours.

I offer her in part in memory of my late friend, big sis, and mentor, Davy Tran Pech. I offer her in part in memory of my late grandmothers born in the year of the dragon. And in part in my own prayers to the year of the dragon, for the safety, empowerment, and protection for women on this earth— especially the ones who’s goodness, grace, intelligence often go unseen until their times are up. May they be fulfilled and feel appreciated in this world and experience the abundance they often share with us.