MyLoan Dinh Prepares for a Profound Performance of “Longing for Harmonies”

Описание: A shrouded figure emerges from below as a traditional Vietnamese folk song fills the room. The figure evolves as layers fall away; a parasol, a veil, a hazmat suit, white underclothes, then an Áo dài. Sound becomes structure. Voices slip in and out. Childish Gambino’s “This is America,” Bowie’s “China Girl,” Southeast Asian women speaking about violence, sexualization, and not being accepted as American. The sound of radio static is a refrain. Silence sharpens. Eggshells crack beneath her feet, the crunch amplified in the quiet.

This is a glimpse at the second Art Reveal of The Contemporaries: Year 2 at McColl Center, featuring a deeply profound performance by Charlotte-based multidisciplinary artist MyLoan Dinh. “Longing for Harmonies” is a 30-minute performance installation rooted in Dinh’s experience as a refugee from Vietnam. The work addresses themes of identity, displacement, and cultural memory through sound, ritual, and symbolic gesture.

What feels so sacred about this work is the vulnerability, both for the artist and for the audience alike. The artist reminds us, solidarity between minority groups is an act of mutual support. “That’s the only way to go forward, a transformative way,” Dinh says. “We hold each other up.”

We are honored to have witnessed this powerful expression. McColl Center is a vessel for artists to be heard, to be felt, and to offer work that is urgent, embodied, and deeply impactful. It is a privilege to hold that space.

MyLoan Dinh is an Artist-in-Residence alum at McColl Center, and this performance of “Longing for Harmonies” happened in 2026.

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