On Friday, Nov. 23, An Ha, a third-year combined-degree student at SMFA, hosted a home-cooked Vietnamese dinner in the SMFA Library in collaboration with the Clay Club.
Originally from Vietnam, Ha moved to Texas at the age of 12. Since moving to Boston, he has found it challenging to find traditional Vietnamese food in restaurants, feeling that Chinatown has become overly gentrified. Instead, Ha has taken to hosting intimate dinners with friends about once a month. Especially after the recent election, Ha feels it is more important than ever to find community and foster a sense of belonging.
“I just want people to feel like they’re part of a larger thing,” Ha said. “To make people feel like they’re alive.”
In the bustle of college life, students often rush in and out of dining halls, forgetting the importance of community and intimacy. Ha’s dinners aim to counter this trend by encouraging people to slow down and take the time to sit and eat together.
Ha draws his inspiration from Rirkrit Tiravanija, a contemporary Thai artist known for using food as a medium to foster connections. Tiravanijia’s intimate and participatory installations often involve cooking and serving pad thai, creating community through shared culinary experiences.
Upon entering the library nook, guests were warmly welcomed by the soothing sounds of Vietnamese jazz and the enticing aroma of Ha’s cooking. The table was beautifully set with ceramicware crafted by students, complemented by custom feline-stamped napkins created by Zoe Haralambidis and intricately laser-etched menus all on top of a multi-layered canvas tablecloth made up of incredible paintings by Maria Cazzato. Artworks by Matilda Love, Miguel Caba and Ha adorned the walls and floors, transforming the whole space into an immersive art exhibit. On one wall hung the pocket of a pair of jeans with a photo in it, a creation by Ha inspired by the ways people carry photos of their loved ones. Ha often incorporates found objects, such as thrift store photos, love letters and materials discovered in internet archives, into his artwork. Adding to the ambiance, projected overhead were beautiful video mosaics of shooting stars by Vivian Tran.
Throughout the dinner, the sense of community was evident, as students, professors and librarians exchanged laughter and stories, united by the delicious meal and mutual appreciation for each other’s art, hard work and creativity.
The three-course meal began with soothing hot green tea, and everyone raised their glasses in cheerful toasts, happy to be together. The first entree, goi, featured a refreshing cabbage and mushroom salad with fish sauce dressing. The main dish, mi quang, a central Vietnamese noodle soup, was beautifully plated, showcasing vibrant colors and a rich, flavorful broth. To finish the meal, Ha served a decadent coconut caramel flan over iced coffee; seconds were irresistible.
Feeling delighted by the night, guests talked excitedly about planning similar events in the future, including the possibility of a dessert potluck featuring cherished family recipes. As the evening came to a close, guests stayed back to help clean up, still laughing and talking.
Looking ahead, Ha hopes to host more gatherings like this one, aiming to expand into the SMFA atrium to involve even more people and cultivate community connections across campus.
Ha’s Vietnamese dinner was more than just a meal; it was a celebration of the diverse artists at SMFA. The event highlighted the power of food to bring people together, and it underscored the importance of stepping back from the hustle of everyday life to appreciate those we respect and care about.
