No other product is as ubiquitous in Vietnamese households as the Eagle Brand Dau Xanh, the cure-all.
Have a bruise? Rub this on. Got muscle pain? Rub this on. Have a cold? Rub this on.
The smell of this ointment makes me think of my parents, grandparents, and childhood. So many memories shoved into a green elixir like bottle that smells like a comforting mix of menthol and herbs.
This series celebrates the unique experiences I experienced growing up as a Vietnamese immigrant in a predominantly white community. Many of the things I found comfort in as a child were viewed as exotic or strange by my peers. I seek to normalize these unique cultural elements and educate others. I want my peers to take away a deeper understanding of my culture and the struggles that Asian Americans face and for my Asian American peers to celebrate and feel prideful about the unique cultural elements that may have alienated us from the mainstream American experience in the past.
Instagram: @danphamit.art
