Isn’t it the question of everyone? Who I am and where are my roots? The French photographer Nhu Xuan Hua has the same question. She is on a journey through herself, and her heritage. Born 1989 in Belgium she knows only little about her family who left Vietnam right after the war. After leaving her parents’ home, she is looking for her heritage.

Isn’t it the same journey we are all on? Right after the end of the Cold War I bought an Interrail Ticket to explore my family in the eastern states like Slovakia or Croatia. I discovered a rich heritage spread over the whole Austrian und Hungarian Kingdom, with cousins in nearly every country. But I’m not at the end of my journey.

Like Nhu Xuan Hua – in her exhibition hug of a swan she makes her reflections visible in invisible shadows. She took ancient family images and let AI erase her family members, so there is nothing left except some shadows and silhouettes. They came along with symbols as references to her family like tangerines which gave her mother her and her siblings as a symbol of luck or ears as a symbol for her father who is depth. Maybe these silhouettes will become more visible the more she may answer her questions about her roots.

And what is about my heritage? I’m on my way in a slow pace, although I’m not sure where it will lead me.