Tammy Nguyen Plumbs Nationhood and the Sea in New Opera

Artist Tammy Nguyen will debut her opera, Timaeus and The Teacher, at the closing program of the 61st Venice Biennale on November 13 and 14. The opera, still in progress, explores the consequences of the Vietnam War and delves into themes of identity and nationhood. Inspired by her father's experiences as a refugee on a vessel in the South China Sea, Nguyen's opera centers on a Vietnamese English teacher fleeing Saigon (now Ho Chi Minh City) on a boat.

The performance features Grammy-nominated tenor Brian Vu as the titular character, accompanied by a group of dancers moving around him with a tapestry composed of flags. Nguyen found the South China Sea particularly fascinating due to its heavy maritime traffic and the resulting human interactions and economic entanglements. Commissioned by Wesleyan University, where Nguyen teaches, the opera aligns with her other works, such as a series of paintings currently on view at the biennale's Central Pavilion, and a 2024 exhibition at the Sarasota Art Museum.

Choreographed by Jamal Jackson, the dancers will reconfigure the tapestry of flags into various formations, including mountain ranges, a ship, the sea, and a cosmological diagram inspired by Plato's dialogue, Timaeus. Nguyen aimed to incorporate anthems and lyrics from the flags of convenience in the opera's libretto, which she created by fractally rearranging traditional English language structures. Composer Neely Bruce has also remixed national anthems for the musical score.

As Nguyen's character journeys across the sea, the music reflects his literal and ideological movements. The full production of the opera is expected to be presented to audiences by Bruce's 85th birthday in 2029. Nguyen emphasizes that the concept of nationhood is fluid, but conflicts over it and the search for belonging continue to be significant issues for individuals and societies.